This is the latest in a series of diaries begun by SlyDi, tracking the crisis in the Midwest. I'm going to begin by re-capping some of the updates overnight, list a few sites to go to for more info, then leave it as an open thread for updates. Please rec this up so that it stays up for a while. Anyone who is willing to post the next installment when this scrolls off, speak up.
My focus is on Iowa because it's my state and it's the worst hit at the moment, but there are communities throughout the midsection of the country that have experienced vile weather this season, and had a record-breaking snow-season this year, too. Most of Iowa is in bad shape, while major sections of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana are taking a beating, as are parts of several other neighboring states. And whatever flows through the Upper Midwest eventually makes it's way all the way to the Gulf. Folks on the edges of the country might not understand this, but I'm sure the folks in the Ohio River Valley, St Louis and Hannibal, MO, and all the other cities and states along the Mississippi are well aware that our misery today is foreshadowing their trials in the coming weeks. We all remember '93. So I hope folks from those other states will join in here with updates about conditions in your area.
Congressman Dave Loebsack's web page contains much good information about current evacuations and road closings in the 2nd District of Iowa. Visiting the site tonight, I learned for the first time that Main Library is one of several University of Iowa buildings ordered evacuated by 5 on Saturday. Oh man, this is bad. No, not in terms of life and limb, or shelter, or economics, but to have to abandon what is, for me anyway, the storehouse of knowledge and treasure, is jarring.
So far, city water systems in Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids are reported to be holding up. Officials are asking people to limit use of water as much as possible to take the strain off the systems, and it's still something of a running battle to keep these pumps and wells and what-not sand-bagged.
I've heard that Waterloo/Cedar Falls are improving. Can anybody confirm that? And what about Mason City? Vinton? I know Dubuque has had some problems; how are things there? Are other Mississippi River towns having trouble yet, or are you still bracing for it?
The eastern half of I-80 is a mess. Traffic is being re-routed, adding 110 miles to the 170-mile route. Here's the Gazette's description:
Westbound traffic will be routed north at Highway 61 near the Quad Cities to Highway 20 and west to Interstate 35. Traffic will then be routed south on I-35 to I-80.
Eastbound traffic will be detoured north at Interstate 35 in Des Moines to Highway 20. Traffic will be routed east to Highway 61 at Dubuque, where it will be routed south to I-80.
I've driven all of those roads hundreds of times, and I can't see any other way to do it given the road closings and possibly compromised bridges, but if you don't know the state, get a map and take a look. It's one long detour. Long-haul truckers, and even local and regional drivers are going to have a time of it. And on top of the fuel crisis. Local traffic will be allowed along much of I-80, however.
Iowa newspapers have outdone themselves in putting up great online accounts of these events. Some of them are:
The current front page of the Cedar Rapids Gazette Online carries the headline "An Island No More." In the Center right of the photo are buildings seeming to float in the water. Those are the Linn County government buildings. The island they are built on is now under water.
Waterloo Courier
Mason City Globe Gazette
Iowa City Press-Citizen
KCRG-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids, stayed on flood coverage until 1 am this morning, and it was all solid reporting. KXIC in Iowa City has been on the story throughout the day, only going to network in the middle of the night. It's a Fox affiliate, but when it comes to local news, they are on it.
Weather report? 30% chance of rain. If the pattern holds, we'll get rain in the form of drenching downpours followed by 80 degrees and steam.
So, water-logged Kossacks, what are you waking up to? Where you gonna place your weary sandbags today?