A very dear friend is toughing it out in Iowa amidst the flooding. Her home is south of Cedar Rapids and is, thankfully, on higher ground. For a couple of days there were worries, however. Not that she would get flooded, but that she would have no clean water or electricity. For her and the children that would be devastating. If Cedar Rapids had lost either of their plants, it would have been tragic for most of the state. As it is, my heart goes out to the Cedar Rapids community. So much damage. I asked her if I could send anything and she laughed. All mail to their city is routed through Cedar Rapids. There is no way I can get anything to her at this time. And the roads leading to the state from mine are currently closed off for one reason or another. Grrr. I’ll be watching the weather. Hang in there, Emma.
My heart broke when Katrina hit. In less than 24 hours I was working with 30 other volunteers packing up buses with supplies and sending them on their way. Meanwhile we, the small city of Wichita Falls, Tx, became a major routing station for about 2000 people. We took the overflow from San Antonio and Dallas (who’d already been taking the overflow from Houston). Clothes, food, shelter, reuniting loved ones, and medical attention were the first priority. Job relocation and independence were the next. We absorbed quite a few into our community and helped several more return home after the okays came in from Louisiana and Mississippi. Still others moved on to other cities and towns, leaving behind beautiful memories of their times here.
The entire city of Cedar Rapids is flooded. 9 square miles under water. This situation has me again watching CNN and scoping reuters.com for news.
Tags: Emma Ray Garrett, mother nature
June 16th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
We’re still hanging in. More levee and dike failures have kicked the flow of the Mighty Miss into high gear. I lived here in ‘93 - that was really bad. This is way worse.
The power has been a bit sketchy, but it’s still on the the city manager says the plants (water and power) should hold. Now, it’s just a waiting game. The crest is scheduled for Wed. am, which seems like a mighty long time from now.
Big, big hugs, Dawn! As soon as mail is moving again, I’ll let you know. For anyone else, please contact your local Red Cross center to find out what to do and how you can help, should you want to, with the flood relief efforts.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:38 am
*big hugs* Oh hon!
Right now the Red Cross in my area is asking for O+ and O- blood donors. They are running low. Since I can’t donate due to being overseas recently, I’m passing the word.
Cedar Rapids is going to need all the basics. Blankets (and pillows!), clothes, food, water, toys for the children…