At 8 a.m., water had apparently overrun a temporary barrier constructed on Second Avenue. Public works employees said a "total evacuation of the area" is necessary. Authorities began to push sight-seeers back and sandbags were being unloaded on Sheridan Avenue. Floodwaters have breached a levee east of Riverview Park, surrounded North High School and threatened a residential neighborhood to the east, officials said this morning. Polk County sheriff's spokesman Neil Shultz said concern is spreading east and south as the temporary barrier on Second Avenue continues to erode. "You can't focus everything here" at the site of the breach, he said. "You have to have eye on other parts of the levee." The north side breach was discovered around 3:30 a.m. Water already was approaching the school's parking lots when public works officials arrived at 3:50 a.m.
Floodwaters have breached a levee east of Riverview Park, surrounded North High School and threatened a residential neighborhood to the east, officials said this morning.
Polk County sheriff's spokesman Neil Shultz said concern is spreading east and south as the temporary barrier on Second Avenue continues to erode.
"You can't focus everything here" at the site of the breach, he said. "You have to have eye on other parts of the levee."
The north side breach was discovered around 3:30 a.m. Water already was approaching the school's parking lots when public works officials arrived at 3:50 a.m.
Seems we may have another Katrina on our hands. First Cedar Rapids, now Des Moines. Not good. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
Let's be clear, the problem in New Orleans was not the flooding but the absolute lack of preparation and the botching of the aftermath. The flooding resulted in about 50 deaths in the central Europe and about as many in Russia, and reconstruction was undertaken diligently. When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
in Des Moines, Iowa's largest city, a levee ruptured early Saturday and allowed the Des Moines River to pour into an area near downtown, and a mandatory evacuation was ordered for 270 homes, authorities said. Many residents of the area already had left after a voluntary evacuation request was issued Friday. Des Moines city crews and National Guard used dump trucks and front-end loaders to build a temporary berm in a bid to stop the water, but by midmorning they had been ordered to abandon the work because officials expected the berm to also fail. That would leave hundreds of homes unprotected from flooding that had already surrounded the city's North High School. "Things happened really fast," said Toby Hunvemuller of the Army Corps of Engineers. "We tried to figure out how high the level would go. Not enough time. We lost ground. We didn't want to risk life or harm anyone, and the decision was made to stop."
Des Moines city crews and National Guard used dump trucks and front-end loaders to build a temporary berm in a bid to stop the water, but by midmorning they had been ordered to abandon the work because officials expected the berm to also fail. That would leave hundreds of homes unprotected from flooding that had already surrounded the city's North High School.
"Things happened really fast," said Toby Hunvemuller of the Army Corps of Engineers. "We tried to figure out how high the level would go. Not enough time. We lost ground. We didn't want to risk life or harm anyone, and the decision was made to stop."
Meanwhile in Des Moines.
Solar heating sets up a diurnal storm pattern under these conditions. We regularly see thunderstorms popping up towards the western edge of the plains, from Texas to the Dakotas, that them move eastward over the next 24-48 hours. As the year has progressed we have seen the intersection point of the gulf air and the jet stream move north. In February and March we had storms moving from Texas and Oklahoma to the east. Now the points of origin seem to have shifted further north, from central Oklahoma to Nebraska. In the absence of strong weather systems moving from the Gulf of Alaska east across the continent, the weather can become stuck in a pattern, with massive amounts of rain being dumped over the same areas day after day.
In March and April this pattern set up over Arkansas and left all of the Army Corps of Engineers' reservoirs in the Ozark watershed full. As additional rain fell, water had to be released downstream. This was as traumatic for the ACOE operators as it was damaging to communities and farm lands down stream. Senior ACOE officials appeared before affected downstream communities with tears in their eyes to explain that they had no choice but to open the floodgates.
This was combined with the sad fact that poor counties in eastern Arkansas had dissolved levee boards in the '50s and 60s because of the expense and lack of perceived need. The result was that the rich bottom lands along the Mississippi and some towns were flooded, and some may remain flooded. This has prevented or delayed farmers from getting crops, especially rice, of which these lands are large producers, in the ground. Soft red wheat, on the other hand, which is grown on higher ground, seems set for a banner year--if farmers can get the crop harvested.
Now this pattern has set up further north. Compared to the Ozark water shed, there is less reservoir capacity in those areas. A stable downpour occurred over parts of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana last week. This is being referred to as a "once in 500 year event." My feeling is that prospectively such events might become once in 50 year events. Global warming may increase the energy and possibly the capriciousness of these types of events. As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
Just wish it was Crawford being washed away. keep to the Fen Causeway
Don't know how much of all that is a causative/contributing factor to the flooding.
A couple days ago I was browsing through some black blogs and I noticed them mentioning that it's not getting much attention, and won't until things start getting really bad. They were saying that as blacks they feel especially touched by it because of the Katrina experience... and because Iowans made Obama's victory possible by showing them that whites are willing to vote for a black candidate in large numbers.
The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is internationally known for its permanent and changing exhibits featuring exquisite Czech and Slovak folk art and costumes, fine art, political history, maps and militaria. A visit includes a tour of a restored 1880 Czech immigrant home. In addition, a varied calendar of programs is offered each year. The library has an impressive collection of books and archival materials about Czech and Slovak history and culture.
Been there. Impressive collection and display of Central European culture and history.
We need your help right now. In Quincy, Illinois and surrounding areas, the river is expected to crest on Monday or Tuesday. There are emergency sandbagging operations going on right now and public officials have put out a call for all available volunteers. Your help is desperately needed. The widespread flooding in the Midwest has affected millions of people. We have an opportunity to use our grassroots movement to make a real impact at a time of urgent need. If you can assist, please travel to one of these areas this weekend: QUINCY, IL Oakley-Lindsey Civic Center South 3rd St. and Kentucky St. Quincy, IL 62301 Map and Directions Saturday and Sunday, June 14th - 15th 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Volunteers are asked to come through the north doors of the Oakley-Lindsey Center. Everyone will be asked to sign a registration sheet as they enter and leave so the city can keep track of the volunteer service. Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, gloves and sturdy shoes. NIOTA, IL If you'd like to help sandbag in Niota you can call Hancock County emergency services at 217-357-6004 for more information. URSA, IL Volunteers are still needed in Ursa. The operation is underway at Shaffer Farm, along the Ursa blacktop road, 1/8 mile west of the North Bottoms Road. Volunteers are also requesting cold bottled water for those who are working. More information on volunteering in this area: http://my.barackobama.com/floodvolunteer Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the recent flooding through the Midwest. If you are not able to make it to Quincy but would like to help, visit the American Red Cross to donate to their relief efforts or find out how to get involved. Thanks, Obama for America
In Quincy, Illinois and surrounding areas, the river is expected to crest on Monday or Tuesday.
There are emergency sandbagging operations going on right now and public officials have put out a call for all available volunteers. Your help is desperately needed.
The widespread flooding in the Midwest has affected millions of people. We have an opportunity to use our grassroots movement to make a real impact at a time of urgent need.
If you can assist, please travel to one of these areas this weekend:
QUINCY, IL
Oakley-Lindsey Civic Center
South 3rd St. and Kentucky St.
Quincy, IL 62301
Map and Directions
Saturday and Sunday, June 14th - 15th
6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Volunteers are asked to come through the north doors of the Oakley-Lindsey Center. Everyone will be asked to sign a registration sheet as they enter and leave so the city can keep track of the volunteer service.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, gloves and sturdy shoes.
NIOTA, IL
If you'd like to help sandbag in Niota you can call Hancock County emergency services at 217-357-6004 for more information.
URSA, IL
Volunteers are still needed in Ursa. The operation is underway at Shaffer Farm, along the Ursa blacktop road, 1/8 mile west of the North Bottoms Road.
Volunteers are also requesting cold bottled water for those who are working.
More information on volunteering in this area:
http://my.barackobama.com/floodvolunteer
Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the recent flooding through the Midwest.
If you are not able to make it to Quincy but would like to help, visit the American Red Cross to donate to their relief efforts or find out how to get involved.
Thanks,
Obama for America
Anyway, on to the flood news.
Iowa has been hit bad. This is now being called a 500 year flood:
FLOOD UPDATE - JUNE 13, 2008 Army Corps of Engineers staff informed Iowa City staff Friday morning, June 13, that the current water level of the Coralville Reservoir is 715.9 feet, 3.9 feet over the spillway. The level in the Reservoir is expected to peak at 717.7 at midnight on June 16th. Inflows to the Reservoir are peaking today, Friday, June 13, with an estimated 50,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) inflow. Possible maximum flow expected during this flood event in the Iowa City area is 44,000 cfs, expected late Monday, June 16. This correlates to an additional 4-1/2 to 5 feet of additional water. Additional rain may add to and delay the peak. The maximum flow experience in 1993 was 28,200 cfs. The flood of 2008 is now anticipated to be near or exceed a 500-year flood event. URGENT NOTICE TO RESIDENTS ALREADY AFFECTED BY FLOOD AND TO THOSE ADJACENT TO THE FLOODPLAIN The flood of 2008 has now exceeded water levels experienced in the flood of 1993. Properties adjoining those directly affected in 1993 are now vulnerable to inundation. Owners of property in the 500-year floodplain should be aware of the imminent flooding of their property and make plans for evacuation now. Residents and property owners in flood-prone areas are urged to continue their protective actions. At this point in time, it is vitally important to start planning now for evacuation. If your property is on or near the floodplain, do not wait for mandatory evacuation. Sandbag levees should not give a false sense of security to residents and property owners. If they should fail, it becomes a dangerous situation where people can become stranded and lives are put at risk attempting rescues. City efforts are now focusing on protecting vital public infrastructure.
Army Corps of Engineers staff informed Iowa City staff Friday morning, June 13, that the current water level of the Coralville Reservoir is 715.9 feet, 3.9 feet over the spillway. The level in the Reservoir is expected to peak at 717.7 at midnight on June 16th. Inflows to the Reservoir are peaking today, Friday, June 13, with an estimated 50,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) inflow. Possible maximum flow expected during this flood event in the Iowa City area is 44,000 cfs, expected late Monday, June 16. This correlates to an additional 4-1/2 to 5 feet of additional water. Additional rain may add to and delay the peak. The maximum flow experience in 1993 was 28,200 cfs. The flood of 2008 is now anticipated to be near or exceed a 500-year flood event.
URGENT NOTICE TO RESIDENTS ALREADY AFFECTED BY FLOOD AND TO THOSE ADJACENT TO THE FLOODPLAIN
The flood of 2008 has now exceeded water levels experienced in the flood of 1993. Properties adjoining those directly affected in 1993 are now vulnerable to inundation. Owners of property in the 500-year floodplain should be aware of the imminent flooding of their property and make plans for evacuation now.
Residents and property owners in flood-prone areas are urged to continue their protective actions. At this point in time, it is vitally important to start planning now for evacuation. If your property is on or near the floodplain, do not wait for mandatory evacuation. Sandbag levees should not give a false sense of security to residents and property owners. If they should fail, it becomes a dangerous situation where people can become stranded and lives are put at risk attempting rescues. City efforts are now focusing on protecting vital public infrastructure.
The river is predicted to crest June 20!
Towns in eastern Iowa are flooded with only roofs of buildings sticking out of the water. Can't find much information about the full extent of the damage.
Flood warnings have been issued along the Mississippi.
Globally, forget about the corn crop from Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Fields are either flooded or were too water-logged to plant. They may be able to plant or re-plant soybeans but even that is getting hincky. Lacking the tools (planters, grain heads, etc) there are limits to what can be planted so the economic impact on even the non-flooded areas will be major.
Meanwhile, Bush's Great Iraq Adventure© has stripped the Midwest of the National Guard AND all their equipment. They are a key element in emergency planning and response so emergency managers and supervisors are having to make it up as they go along, increasing response time to events.
On a personal note, friends have been evacuated in Iowa because of the flooding while friend have been evacuated in California due to wildfire. (This really sucks.)
Fool me twice... When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
A Coast Guard boat powers its way down a flooded street Friday, June 13, 2008, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(From a Kos diary. See link for link to the picture.)
You just can't make this stuff up.
OMG. keep to the Fen Causeway
The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... northern Iowa County in east central Iowa... Johnson County in east central Iowa... [i.e., Iowa City] southern Linn County in east central Iowa... [i.e., Cedar Rapids] until 400 PM CDT. At 302 PM CDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing Golf Ball size hail... and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located approximately 17 miles northwest of Victor... or 22 miles northwest of Marengo... and moving east at 29 mph. * The severe thunderstorm will be near... 9 miles north of Ladora around 335 PM CDT... Marengo around 345 PM CDT... 7 miles north of Conroy around 355 PM CDT... Amana around 400 PM CDT... This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 212 and 245. This includes Interstate 380 between mile markers 1 and 22. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning.
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... northern Iowa County in east central Iowa... Johnson County in east central Iowa... [i.e., Iowa City] southern Linn County in east central Iowa... [i.e., Cedar Rapids]
* The severe thunderstorm will be near... 9 miles north of Ladora around 335 PM CDT... Marengo around 345 PM CDT... 7 miles north of Conroy around 355 PM CDT... Amana around 400 PM CDT...
This includes Interstate 80 in Iowa between mile markers 212 and 245.
This includes Interstate 380 between mile markers 1 and 22.
Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning.
So they'll get more rain on top of the flooding.
I loved and loved living in Iowa City. Damn, Damn, Damn.
June 20th, though. Jesus. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
John McCain 2008 - John McCain for President
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the flooding throughout the Midwest. Cindy and I would like to extend our sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, and stand ready to help those in the Midwest to recover and rebuild."
Feel the sincerity.
You'd think the least he could do is post them some cake.
Upon emergency fill in and distribute to press: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the [Insert from List 1] throughout the [Insert 2] . Cindy and I would like to extend our sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, and stand ready to help those in [Insert 2] to recover and rebuild." Insert 1 list: hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, plague, volcano, fire, genocide, tsunami, erectile dysfunction, traffic jam, ants at the picnic IMPORTANT NOTE! Ensure Insert 2 is the same before distributing to the press!
Upon emergency fill in and distribute to press:
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the [Insert from List 1] throughout the [Insert 2] . Cindy and I would like to extend our sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, and stand ready to help those in [Insert 2] to recover and rebuild."
Insert 1 list: hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake, plague, volcano, fire, genocide, tsunami, erectile dysfunction, traffic jam, ants at the picnic
IMPORTANT NOTE! Ensure Insert 2 is the same before distributing to the press!
In an attempt to increase public support of whatever the fuck it is he thinks he's doing, President Bush trotted out the same old whoop-de-do you've heard over and over at a solemn-yet-resolute speech attended by soldiers, or religious leaders, or firemen, or some mix of ethnic-looking people from one of those countries. "We have to give this plan time to wop bop a loo bop, a wop bam boom, ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang," President Bush may as well have said. "May God [help/bless/save] the United States of America."
"We have to give this plan time to wop bop a loo bop, a wop bam boom, ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang," President Bush may as well have said. "May God [help/bless/save] the United States of America."
Plus, do we know if McCain has any volunteers? Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
I mean, they're not even trying. keep to the Fen Causeway
I still don't quite believe it myself, as when I remember who stood against him in the Primary I kinda understand how he came through. However, although I remember understanding that Romney couldn't win, several months on I can't quite bring them to mind.
As Kos said a couple of days ago, McCain didn't win the Primary, everybody else lost it before he did. keep to the Fen Causeway
The problem for McCain is that Obama was the Dem who polled well among Indies, for different reasons. McCain has been portrayed as a maverick for years by the press, while Obama's appeal is more cultural -- sort of the flipside of Obama doing poorly with rural whites on cultural grounds. I keep saying that, for all the laughable charges of "black nationalism" and the like, Obama is clearly the candidate of Yuppiedom. (They shop at Whole Foods; he uses an iPhone; Michelle tells farmers in Iowa about getting her shoes from the clearance rack at Ross, etc -- almost stereotypically yuppie.) And a huge chunk of Indies are suburban/exurban yuppies. The McCains can't connect that way. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
