If you didn't know about Iowa before, you certainly do now. That is, if you watch TV or listen to a radio. In 1993 we had the Hundred Years Flood. Aught eight is now being called the Five Hundred Years Flood. We did learn from our mistakes in '93 so some of the damage has been mitigated. But we had (are having) more rain in larger amounts which are causing problems now. Levees are breaking, towns and cities are being evacuated, basements and fields are being flooded. Farmers are crying in their beer. (That's a lie. They're not crying. You can't be a farmer and be a wimp. You wouldn't survive. They are some of the most optimistic people I know.) It's a mess.
Thursday Bettina and Gary drove around the quarter and took some pictures. She said I could use them for this post, so here they are:
This is the golf course. Taken from the road, looking out over No. 2 fairway, No. 7 tee box and No. 3 fairway. That little building is used to sell beer and drinks during a tournament.
This is No. 2 green. It's usually much bigger than this.
This is the road you're sitting on after having driven through water washing across the road. You know you're not supposed to do that. It's very dangerous, but I'm glad you made it safely.
This crap is cornstalks that have washed downstream from a field and are now sitting on No. 2 fairway.
This is Ron Brown's sheep pasture. Don't worry - he'd moved the sheep up to the barn weeks ago to lamb. Kinda pretty, isn't it?
The field on the left is Ron Girres (I believe) and the one on the right is Little Jerry's. Somewhere in there is the lane going up to Jay's farm. Bettina would not allow Gary to try to drive through this. (Wise choice Bettina.)
Remember all those cornstalks above? This picture shows the greenskeeper, Blake Banwart, his two sons and another helper using a hose to push them off the fairway and into the fast flowing creek.
And, yes, they are standing on the fairway and the water is almost up to their waists. Blake said that when it went over their heads, they'll know they found the creek. Not funny Blake. Not funny AT ALL!
This has been a tiny picture of what's been going on around here. Many, many people, in Iowa and elsewhere in the Midwest, have it much worse.
Bettina has more pictures on her MySpace and I thank her for risking her life (and her truck) for going out and taking these remarkable pictures. You rock!
12 comments:
Somehow those are much more meaningful than the news.
Thank you both.
Yes Sally there is beauty even in disasters.
I've been wondering about you. During the 93 flood(s) in St. Louis, it was so weird. If you didn't KNOW the flood was happening, depending on where you were, you might not even know about it, life went on as normal.
Stay dry!
As you know, I had been wondering where you were and how you were doing. Just seeing water reaching the bottom of traffic lights was scary; then overhead/chopper shots of houses and streets almost underwater. Awful. But you're doing alright, right? Hope so.
Great shots! It's kind of scary to see what damage a flood can do, isn't it! The photo with the reflection is great...it is kind of pretty.
Tanna - I agree. The news photos are awsome scary. But actually living in and dealing with all the water and the trouble it causes is more meaningful. I'm so glad she took those pictures.
Alanna - Are you getting any of this water?
Mari - Yes, we're fine. Sump pumps and dehumidifiers are working overtime, but oh well.
Ginni - How are you holding up there lady? Your town has a bit of damage as well, doesn't it?
Wow! Great shots. My backyard still feels like a sponge.
Makes this all seem different when you see personal pictures from someone who lives there. Hope you are doing ok.
Not good. Been thinking of you reading the news. I feel so badly for all of those farmers.
This is just crazy!!
I live in a bubble. I know nothing - or very little. It's not that I'm proud of this - it just happened after I moved to the mountain. These pictures are heartbreaking. I remember when I was living in Kansas City, there was a huge flood in the 80s. In that case, the concrete jungle of the insanely expanding suburbs caused much of the flooding.
We sure could use some of that rain.
Thank you for those pics. It looks extraordinary from out here.
I'm in Chicago but we're trying to raise money for a Cedar Rapids family who lost their home in the flood. If anyone reading this is interested, we're working a campaign to get $500
https://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/help-nathan-and-tara-rebuild
We already have $190. If anyone has $5 or $10 to spare, please check out the campaign.
Thank you and good luck to everyone in Iowa!
Wow! Great shots! Isn't it sad, the damage all around from the floods! We got more rain and I have been so worried that it will cause more heartbreak.
Hey, I'm heading for Okoboji this afternoon. I'll wave as I go by on Hwy. 18! We usually head up Hwy 15 to Armstrong...I love knowing all the "back roads"! LOL
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