In non-Election news, massive flooding is now hitting the Ohio and Missouri river valleys. This is personal for me, because it's devestating my home town as I type.
In Poplar Bluff, MO, the levee protecting the south side from the Black River broke in two places, and ran over in two more places. If the flood wasn't bad enough, it struck in a part of town that is significantly poorer than other areas of town (it's literally across the railroad tracks). MSNBC is broadcasting live from that side of town today. In the background, you can see the public housing which is now ruined. The second area of public housing is on the east side of town, practically on the river bank. I am sure it's gone as well. Several years ago, there was talk about creating a third area of public housing, on the hilly side of town which does not flood. This site was within walking distance of two grocery stores, the hospital, and K-mart. However, the wealthy people who live nearby had the plan killed.
I am reading about how over night the police has had to rescue people from their rooftops, and how some parts of the area (like Piedmont, MO) will be without fresh water for weeks. This sounds disturbingly familiar. I pray that the government handles this better than they handled Katrina. We will see in the next few weeks. In 2004, President Bush campaigned in Poplar Bluff, in response to a petition signed by 10k of the townsfolk. 30,000 people jammed in a local park to see him. I hope President Bush is remembering them now, and will not let them suffer the way people suffered on the Gulf Coast.
Above the flip, I mentioned how this was personal for me. Where MSNBC was broadcasting is where my sister lives. She is across the road from where the housing is. I am not sure of her home's fate. Dad said it was almost to her street when she left. And judging by the video on TV, it looks very grim.
This has not been a good year for her or Poplar Bluff. A local furniture factory closed last year, causing hundreds of people (including her) to lose their jobs. The government provided layoff assistance to them so they could go to the local college, and get some skills to compete in the "new economy". The three remaining factories in town are all on the south side. Hopefully the flood waters will not get that far. Because if those factories are destroyed, there won't be an economy left in that town, new or otherwise.
UPDATE: I just spoke with my parents again. Apparently the three factories on the south side were flooded, and are shut down until further notice. But they are pretty sure the factories will be able to reopen. As for my sister's house, they are hopeful that because the house is on a slight hill, that the house itself will be fine. The basement will probably flood, so that will be a nasty clean up.
Also, word has it that people are taking their boats on to the river, and might be unintentionally causing damage to the levee. Morons.
UPDATE 2: I found a picture of my sister's neighborhood. It looks like the house made it!! The flood made it to her yard, but the house looks fine!!!