Iowa Flooding

If you haven't been following the news, Iowa has been having historic flooding - particularly Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and my town - Iowa City. Everyone has been affected in some way, either directly or indirectly. Personally, I have not had, and am not in danger of suffering, property losses. However, many have lost much (including the university campus) and in a great community such as this, everyone shares those losses.



Personally being a part of the shared effort to protect our community has been a silver lining to this raincloud. It always feels nice to think and talk about ideals of "community", but to see and be a part of it in action is a moving experience. The numbers of volunteers that have turned out to sandbag, and in the case of the library - move books to higher ground, has been huge. Iowa City is a wonderfully interesting and unique, if not eclectic, group of people with a strong sense of community. It has been fun to work beside, contribute, and endure such an experience with these people. (Even if someone did steal my wallet while I was sandbagging yesterday.)

The following pictures may give those of you who have lived in I.C. a sense of how high the river has risen.

North of IMU near the North Campus Ramp.

The Park Rd. bridge near City Park (which is underwater in the background).

Near the Main Library on campus.

Iowa St. just west of the Old Capitol, with Hubbard Park in the background.

A long line of people passing sandbags near the Main Library.

Yes, that's a USPS mailman in full uniform - just finished delivering the mail and then joined in the efforts.

Riverside Dr. near the Hydraulic Lab or just below the Law School.

The Lindquist Center across the street from the Main Library on Madison St.















Below the Burlington St. bridge near the Hydraulic Lab.

Just north of IMU looking out to the foot bridge over the River.

Iowa River looking north to the Iowa St. bridge.

The footbridge at the corner of Riverside and Burlington.

The view from the deck of our condo following a rainshower. Rainbow is directly over the town of Iowa City.