THE FLOODS

'We Are the Lucky Ones'

Whether they've lost homes or businesses, many Iowans still feel blessed because they survived--and have good neighbors.

By Jamie Reno | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jun 16, 2008 | Updated: 4:47  p.m. ET Apr 17, 2009

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  • Posted By: lauran1947 @ 11/22/2008 1:18:49 AM

    I really like this post.
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  • Posted By: CRIowa2008 @ 06/17/2008 2:01:10 PM

    New Hartford Survivor...I couldn't agree with you more. I am so sorry for what you have gone through.

    • Posted By: New Hartford Survivor @ 07/17/2008 2:19:10 PM

      Enter Your CommentThanks my friend!

  • Posted By: fan_chor-cheung @ 06/26/2008 5:57:16 PM

    The Mississippi flood which include the flood at Iowa and subsequently those in Illinois was God's disapproval of Obama as presidential candidate. The flood at Illinois on June 18, 2008 was especially serious. The flood water has broken many dikes and levees. Iowa was the first state in the primary presidential election for Obama and Illinois is Obama's home state. In May 2008 when the Democrat governor of Oklahoma endorsed Obama, in two days tornadoes on Oklahoma killed 100 people and destroyed $1 billion of properties. This had confirm that there is a God/Environment and He is against Obama. God even hates the aphabet "O". The fact that Iowa similar "I. O. Wa." or "I. O. U." probably means the Black community may have owed Washington or the U. S government or the American people in general something very important. What they are, many of you should be able to determine yourselves? I am here only to help you understand the messages from the Environment so that future disasters can be averted. Future disasters to the U. S. will certainly confirm my prophecy.

    • Posted By: New Hartford Survivor @ 07/17/2008 2:16:38 PM

      Idiot, God does not strike at people because of a presidential canidate. What kind of a moron thinks that way? Certainly not any true christian would say that, they would know that is not how God operates.

  • Posted By: nodano @ 06/19/2008 6:33:37 PM

    I am not white. I am not Christian. I am not whatever stereotype you have of people from the Midwest. I came to this country as an immigrant child and I had the privilege and honor of growing up in Iowa where people genuinely looked out for each other and accepted me without question. I can only be proud of my home state for coping well with this disaster.

  • Posted By: SickOfLeeches @ 06/17/2008 1:19:46 PM

    Funny how I don't see Oprah, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Kanye West and all those other hypocrites rushing to Iowa helping out the flood victims. Sad how famous people prove themselves hypoctires by picking and choosing who they help while whining that the at Government has done the very same thing. Since Kanye is so convinced that George Bush does not care about black people, does this mean that Bush does not care about Iowans either?

    • Posted By: RN2be09 @ 06/19/2008 8:11:00 AM

      Hello? This is not over by any means. I live in extreme southeast Iowa and people are scrambling to fill sandbags still. I am sure that there will be celebrity help. This just happened and it is still going on. Jay Leno is having two shows in Vegas and giving all proceeds to Iowa.

    • Posted By: robisonjimmy@att.net @ 06/17/2008 1:35:08 PM

      At least Brad and others put there money where there mouth is. Bush is only concerned with saving his crappy legacy. Give it up Dubya it's too late now.

      OBAMA'08

      • Posted By: SickOfLeeches @ 06/17/2008 1:44:45 PM

        They have not put anything toward the Iowans who are in desperate need. As a matter of fact, they have not said anything at all! My post was obviously lost on you as proven by the crappy candidate you are endorsing. Pity, such a waste of a vote.

        McCain '08!

    • Posted By: SickOfLeeches @ 06/17/2008 1:22:33 PM

      OOOPs, I made a typo. I meant hypocrites instead of hypoctires. SORRY

  • Posted By: New Hartford Survivor @ 06/17/2008 1:54:23 PM

    You know, this is all good, this coverage of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, but what happened to little New Hartford??? We were hit by an F5 tornado, and we were barely mentioned for 2 days. Then we were flooded, we have had one major disaster on top of another. And we are fogotten. And FEMA?? come on, they aren't giving us a red cent, and we are not well off people. And Bush doen't give a crap about anyone but himself. He is the worst president in history.

    • Posted By: katniblick@live.com @ 06/18/2008 3:23:00 PM

      Did you forget about Jimmy Carter?

  • Posted By: mandymama @ 06/18/2008 10:56:53 AM

    I remember watching the coverage of Katrina and saying to my husband "that would never happen here if the city was underwater." And it didn't.

    Do you know why? It's a different world. Many of these towns and cities in Iowa have 80-90%+ church membership. People are involved in their neighborhoods and communities. They help their elderly neighbors and those with babies because they are likely to be their family, their friend's family or just someone they talk to regularly at church or the store. Preachers feel responsible for their congregations and will make sure that each member is checked on. Ordinary people helping out ordinary people.

    This happened in New Orleans too. I'm certain of it. There were great stories of heroics, but the looting and the raping and murdering overtook it all. That wouldn't happen here. A bunch of farm boys would risk their necks, grab the people doing that and hog tie them until the proper authorities could take care of them.

    People in larger cities tend to be more disconnected with their community. They don't have a personal stake in peoples lives and don't feel a social responsibility to their neighbors or their community.

    I also wouldn't raise my kids children anywhere else.

  • Posted By: 1970sGypsy @ 06/17/2008 5:35:15 PM

    Like it not, how can anyone help but make negative comparisons between this disaster and Katrina? Images of college kids packing sandbags to save historical documents versus images of grinning looters, (with stereos and TVs, by the way, not food for their babies) wading through waist high water with armloads of stolen property? Katrina set a precedent for everything bad, which is why it stays in the headlines, when so many other disasters have come and gone. No other Katrina-ravaged city got the publicity that New Orleans did, and that???s a reputation the city will have to live down. Avagrell, your main battle will be with the media, to get them to focus on New Orleans and her hardworking, devoted people first, with the K word put in its proper place???in ancient history by today???standards. It would be an inspiration to see a city revive itself against such great odds. And, Natecat, I WAS there, and I slept in my truck for two months. While working in the area, I was offered everything possible by the so-called victims, from looted jewelry to cut-rate Mississippi motel rooms provided to them by the government. Few could help themselves, unless it was to someone else???s property. The agencies and individuals who did assist, like those who went from house to house looking for the bodies of those left behind, only received blame from the same relatives who abandoned their elderly and disabled to drown. For those of you good citizens frustrated by what you see as Katrina bashing, please understand millions saw pictures of chaos, looting and constant blame. There were very few feel-good stories about courageous rescues or those making the best of it. I???ve lived through fifty years of hurricanes in my home state of Florida, and personally never saw anything to compare behavior-wise to Katrina???s aftermath. I would welcome any good news about New Orleans??? recovery at this date. It was one of my favorite cities for over three decades Meanwhile, back to Iowa, please?

    • Posted By: SickOfLeeches @ 06/17/2008 7:51:53 PM

      Well said 1970sGypsy. Thank you!

  • Posted By: natecat @ 06/17/2008 4:17:48 PM

    I'm sorry, I thought making $9/hr and $40/year was being employed and I don't remember saying "college" educated, I said educated. Have you ever been to an inner city school in an extremely poor neighborhood? Have you been to one when you 9 years old and hungry? I'm from the midwest and my son went to Iowa State and believe me there are plenty of farmers with there hands out. Do you really think the people in New Orleans don't try to work and feed their children? Do you believe that all of New Orleans black teenagers sit around all day doing drugs? Maybe I was wrong. Maybe you aren't "educated". The people of New Orleans didn't just sit and wait for help. They pleaded for help - for water, food and medicine. The stores weren't open. Most people had left town. No one could get in and no one could get out. You yell at them for not helping themselves and yet you yell because they looted stores for water and food, diapers and blankets. Maybe you people are proud and courageous but you some of you appear to be bigoted and self-centered racists. Not a place where I'd want to raise children.

    • Posted By: SickOfLeeches @ 06/17/2008 7:42:49 PM

      No one said anything about race, YOU did. YOU said everyone thinks the "black teenagers sit around all day and do drugs." YOU brought up race, which means you have no other way to defend what you think but to claim all others are racists. Is there some reason you think that all the residents of New Orleans were black? That is NOT the case and it certainly sounds like from your post that you think only black people were victims. It really is sad when someone is a racist themselves and cannot make a point about any subject without whining that everyone else is racist.

  • Posted By: natecat @ 06/17/2008 5:03:22 PM

    Just to make myself clear. I think the situation in Iowa is very sad and the people there should, and do feel blessed for the help they are getting and giving. But pride is the wrong emotion to feel as it will surely be tested again and again by God. My heart goes out to the people of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and all the places hit by this year's floods, just as my heart went out to the people of New Orleans. However, I do find it sad and it angers me when we judge those who have severly suffered as somehow not doing enought to avoid it.

    May God bless us all.

  • Posted By: brianysings @ 06/17/2008 4:50:13 PM

    This is certainly not a rich, white, or Iowain issue. Its an everybody issue. I don't think that Iowa should be compared to New Orleans... however, its still a flood. It is still lost lives, homes, neighborhoods, toys... memories....

    God will help us all... don't you get it? He already has helped us... He already has helped those in Iowa.. Those in New Orleans.. Those in Kansas... Those in China.... Those in Iraq... He's everywhere. So regardless of what anyone thinks, there IS NOT a black heaven, a chinese heaven, a white heaven, a german heaven... There is one (1) HEAVEN.. A place where all are equal in the sight of God and Christ. A Place where there will not be any more tears or sorrows, trials, tribulations, or worries.

    There wont be issues or racism or what color of people got the most help. The flood isn't a race issue. The people turn it in to that. Everyone pull together and lets turn our eyes back on God and the prize and things will improve and America will Flourish once again.

    God Bless You is my prayer...

    -Brian, Jasper, Ga

  • Posted By: brianysings @ 06/17/2008 4:50:00 PM

    This is certainly not a rich, white, or Iowain issue. Its an everybody issue. I don't think that Iowa should be compared to New Orleans... however, its still a flood. It is still lost lives, homes, neighborhoods, toys... memories....

    God will help us all... don't you get it? He already has helped us... He already has helped those in Iowa.. Those in New Orleans.. Those in Kansas... Those in China.... Those in Iraq... He's everywhere. So regardless of what anyone thinks, there IS NOT a black heaven, a chinese heaven, a white heaven, a german heaven... There is one (1) HEAVEN.. A place where all are equal in the sight of God and Christ. A Place where there will not be any more tears or sorrows, trials, tribulations, or worries.

    There wont be issues or racism or what color of people got the most help. The flood isn't a race issue. The people turn it in to that. Everyone pull together and lets turn our eyes back on God and the prize and things will improve and America will Flourish once again.

    God Bless You is my prayer...

    -Brian, Jasper, Ga

  • Posted By: brianysings @ 06/17/2008 4:49:56 PM

    This is certainly not a rich, white, or Iowain issue. Its an everybody issue. I don't think that Iowa should be compared to New Orleans... however, its still a flood. It is still lost lives, homes, neighborhoods, toys... memories....

    God will help us all... don't you get it? He already has helped us... He already has helped those in Iowa.. Those in New Orleans.. Those in Kansas... Those in China.... Those in Iraq... He's everywhere. So regardless of what anyone thinks, there IS NOT a black heaven, a chinese heaven, a white heaven, a german heaven... There is one (1) HEAVEN.. A place where all are equal in the sight of God and Christ. A Place where there will not be any more tears or sorrows, trials, tribulations, or worries.

    There wont be issues or racism or what color of people got the most help. The flood isn't a race issue. The people turn it in to that. Everyone pull together and lets turn our eyes back on God and the prize and things will improve and America will Flourish once again.

    God Bless You is my prayer...

    -Brian, Jasper, Ga

  • Posted By: letsgetalong @ 06/17/2008 3:57:45 PM

    We're all doomed. This country is not going to hell, it's already there. There is so much divisiveness in our society it will never be "one nation, with liberty and justice for all". Yes I omitted God, he's not been a part of our nation for a very long time.

    • Posted By: DayOfJudgement @ 06/17/2008 4:49:27 PM

      Why do you feel this way? Is it because our judges have removed Him from our schools? Or maybe because our judges have removed Him from our public places? Could it be because our judges overturn bans and allow gay marriage? Could it be because our judges allow abortion with the most horrific methods? Is it because there is such a glorification of perversity and sex on all forms of media? Shall I go on? God is watching and He is the ultimate judge. Make wise decisions now in how you think and act.

  • Posted By: totalhip @ 06/17/2008 4:35:07 PM

    Forget all of the bickering on this board. There is a real lesson that can be learned from the tragic flooding in both Cedar Rapids and New Orleans. The lesson is the peoples response to tragic events. The people of Iowa banded together helping one another through adversity. Neighbors helped neighbors. Thats how its suppose to be when you are a member of the community. On the other hand, the circumstances in New Orleans caused its citizens to depend on the government. This was a disaster. The lesson is that the government cannot solve problems its the will of the people that does.

  • Posted By: CRIowa2008 @ 06/17/2008 4:29:23 PM

    Please don't bring Iowa down. I think some comments were taken the wrong way. I am saddened to see what these comments turned in to. This is about Iowa not Katrina.
    To everyone from Iowa: keep praying, working and helping your community.

  • Posted By: kjarreau@msn.com @ 06/17/2008 4:16:10 PM

    To sciachir; besides the people who had no means to evacuate either due to lack of dependable transportation, economically challenged, poorly informed of the mandatory evacuation given less than 24 hours, or visitors to the city, many people evacuated. Don't be so ignorant to think that the television you told every reality that occured during Hurrican Katrina. You should be proud of your city and job, but do judge when you are looking from the outside in.

  • Posted By: natecat @ 06/17/2008 3:31:32 PM

    I would only wish that people like 1970sGypsy who are so proud of the "courageous Midwesterners" would someday find themselves in the situation of the people in New Orleans. Plopped down in an inadequate facility during one of the worst hurricanes in history with no food, water, electricity, bathroom facilites or medical supplies. Also, with no way to get out. Let them watch the elderly and children become sick and die from heat and dehydration, smell the stink of death and human feces and cradle the heads of listless babies who have had nothing to drink for days. The people in Iowa may be "nice" but they are also educated, middle class and employed. They had the means to be able to evacute. What if they had to huddle on their rooftops for days waiting for rescuers who never came? Their neighbors would help them if only they weren't in the same desparate situation. Perhaps the Iowan National Guard was off in Iraq when they were needed at home. I am saddened by the flooding in Iowa but I'm am sickened by the response of some people trying to compare what happened there to what happened in Katrina.

    • Posted By: sciachir @ 06/17/2008 3:57:18 PM

      Excuse me! Although this is a teriffic state (I've lived here my entire life), not everyone, by any means, is employed.. My son is 30 years old, and works at a full-time job making $9/hour... We are also not all college grads. Not everyone here stands with their hands out. The people of New Orleans just sat and waited for help, rather than getting out as requested. I am in my mid-50's and am finally making $40k per year, and I've worked since I was 16 years old. You couldn't ask for a better place to live.

  • Posted By: lorgrube @ 06/17/2008 3:41:16 PM

    I just moved from Cedar Rapids to south Carolina a month ago... I am horrified at the pictures and video I have seen online. To call friends back there and hear that my previous home was underwater broke my heart. I'm proud to be an Iowan no matter where i may be living. I applaud the media for their coverage... without them we wouldn't know the amount of devastation. The affects of this flooding is going to be very widespread. I grew up in a very rural area of Iowa where most income is made from crops... and the crops are destroyed. I'll be keeping the great people of Iowa in my prayers!

  • Posted By: 3JsMomma @ 06/17/2008 3:39:45 PM

    Some of you people are so self-rightous in the way that you write about the people affected by Katrina. What makes you think you are so much better than the people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama? I commend and admire the spirit of cooperation and helping your fellow man; however, that may not be enough. I know that Iowa has suffered floods in the past; but nothing to this extent. Once the floodwaters recede and more and more people realize that they have no where to live and that it may take months or years to rebuild your towns, you may well need - not necessarily want - FEMA's assistance and trailers. As for the celebreties lending their names to help the Katrina victims - Harry Connick, Jr. and Ellen Degeneres are from New Orleans, Tim McGraw is from Louisiana while Faith Hill and Oprah Winnfrey are from Mississippi and were trying to help their hometowns and states. You will have to ask Brad Pitt about his motivations. I live and work in Mississippi where we experience floods, tornados, hurricanes and the occasional earthquake on a regular basis so I have some inkling of the devasting effects of Mother Nature. I am sure that Iowians will take care of and help each other but that may not be enough. As a side note, I would like to add that I live in Vicksburg, Mississippi which is on the Mississippi River and have lots of family and friends that work for the Corp of Engineers. Not all of the levees on the rivers that are flooding are Corp of Engineer levees; some are privately owned and other's may be maintained by the States. So, just because a levee fails does not automatically mean that the Corp is responsible.

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