'We Are the Lucky Ones'

It's too bad so many people are throwing pity parties or placing the blame on others on this discussion wall. Did you miss the point of this article? These interviews were inspiring - stories of people devastated and misplaced, yet saying how grateful they are with what they have left! True Midwestern form. I'm not from Iowa, but am beyond happy that Iowans have come together to survive these floods and tornados.

I don't understand why everyone is arguing about who is better or worse between Katrina victims, flood victims, Bush, the entire government, etc.! Is everybody missing the situation at hand here - that the people in Iowa just got hit hard? I think the article was pointing out that although they're facing such devastation, they're still staying as positive as they can be and are THANKFUL for what they have left! This inspiring story is obviously lost on those of you who only care about pointing fingers and throwing pity parties. Way to go Iowans for being thankful!

While I am happy to see these interviews - it's too bad they did not go farther North in Iowa where there are small towns literally washed away - and these people are picking themselves up and relocating or figuring out how to rebuild - Iowa is truly a great place to live...the people are strong, hardworking NICE people - I wouldn't raise my child anywhere else...

My prayers and best wishes are with the courageous Midwesterners. I had given up on the human race after Katrina. So many elderly left behind to die, while grinning looters shot at helicopters bringing assistance. I still remember the filth and mess left behind at the stadium (good luck, Houston). Some Katrina ???victims??? are already producing their fourth generation of social parasites and of course expect government assistance. They can breed, but that???s about it. The Iowans, however, didn???t wait for help from anybody but themselves, and seem to be managing quite well in this catastrophe. Social History 101, anyone?

My prayers and best wishes are with the courageous Midwesterners. I had given up on the human race after Katrina. So many elderly left behind to die, while grinning looters shot at helicopters bringing assistance. I still remember the filth and mess left behind at the stadium (good luck, Houston). Some Katrina ???victims??? are already producing their fourth generation of social parasites and of course expect government assistance. They can breed, but that???s about it. The Iowans, however, didn???t wait for help from anybody but themselves, and seem to be managing quite well in this catastrophe. Social History 101, anyone?

I don't think they guy was bashing the PEOPLE of New Orleans, the comparison was the response of the CITY and STATE governments in Louisiana. People placed all the blame of the Federal government, but there would not have been nearly as much for the Feds to do if the City and State had followed their only plans and then marshalled their on resources to help with the problem. Instead, they sat back and railed at Washington and Bush. And THEN they re-elected that same do-nothing mayor of New Orleans who hid out when the city needed him most. Not what you'd call leadership. Re-electing him DID make the people of New Orleans look like they had no sense of ownership of their own problems.

I live around the corner from the Driving Range and it is not in eye shot of the levee that broke on Saturday morning. The levee that broke was at 7th and New York Ave and the Driving Range is on NW 66th Ave and NW 26th St. The levee that broke was what took over the Birdland Area again which is the same area where another levee broke in 1993. The Driving Range was flooded due to the outflow of the Saylorville Dam which is 2 miles North of it. And I am sure he was given mroe notice than an hour and half. This is because Sunday night the Park Rangers were going door to door and we heard about it at 8:30 Sunday night and then Monday night about 7 Polk County Sheriff was going door to door as well. And if he would have been paying attention to his surroundings he would see that everywhere was packing up and getting out. Casey's was closed and out of their store completely by 4 on Tuesday. He had plenty of time to get stuff up and out of there. he stayed open as long as he could so he could earn as much as he could.

I live around the corner from the Driving Range and it is not in eye shot of the levee that broke on Saturday morning. The levee that broke was at 7th and New York Ave and the Driving Range is on NW 66th Ave and NW 26th St. The levee that broke was what took over the Birdland Area again which is the same area where another levee broke in 1993. The Driving Range was flooded due to the outflow of the Saylorville Dam which is 2 miles North of it. And I am sure he was given mroe notice than an hour and half. This is because Sunday night the Park Rangers were going door to door and we heard about it at 8:30 Sunday night and then Monday night about 7 Polk County Sheriff was going door to door as well. And if he would have been paying attention to his surroundings he would see that everywhere was packing up and getting out. Casey's was closed and out of their store completely by 4 on Tuesday. So he had more than enough warning to get out and take whatever precautions he needed to for his business. He was just looking out for the bottom dollar and the longer he stayed open the more money he made.

Katrina affected so many more people -- and the damage was both water and wind. I didn't mean to compare disasters -- only the way people respond. Like others have said - when help was asked, Iowans flooded to the scene sometimes causing traffic jams.

Maybe a part of the Iowan response will be influenced by the way the government mishandled Katrina's victims --- and rather than wait around for the government assistance which may -- or may NOT -- be coming, Iowans will muck in and just start working towards a better day... what we're all dreaming of is one of those boring days when nothing remarkable happens. My daughter wears a t-shirt given her by a Missouri friend that says, " IOWA: Nothing to do since 1872" Boring looks pretty good right now.

That's what I admire about Americans. They always think in positive way. May God bless you all.

God helps all whether you have the ability or capability of helping yourself. While and flood is tragic and the lost of life and homes is a tragedy, you can not compare Katrina to Iowa. The victims of Katrina were let down in more ways than one from poor execution of a solid evacuation plan to PREVENTION with better levies. Our government seems to be able to prepare to place us in a war that has cost us billions of dollars and thousands of precious lives, and help millions of people in Iraq who have never stood up to help themselves, so how can you make an excuse for a pathetic display of our governments capabilities of being able to handle just about anything. The victims of Katrina as well as Iowa are just that VICTIMS. No blame should be placed on a victim who is faced with a uncontrollable situation such as acts of nature. This attitude is what is wrong with the world. We try to pick and choose or decide who deserves help and if they meet the ???qualifications???. At the end of the day we ALL need help regardless of whether we deserve it or not. God helps us all and Lord knows most of the time we don???t deserve it but never the less God is love, support, and help NO MATTER WHAT. Please don???t get on your knees at night and pray for help when you judge other ???qualifications??? for help.

I can also proudly claim to be born and raised here in Iowa. I have raised my own family here, with four kids who are each beginning the next phases of their lives in Iowa. We are a state with communities that help each other in serious times of need. Parkersburg, IA, which was hit with an F5 tornado just weeks ago, still has volunteers helping them. Those same volunteers, and many others, will forge ahead to rebuild and bring all parts of Iowa to it's former glory after all of this devistating weather has taken its toll. As to celebrity assistance, we would welcome whatever they could provide. I do know that Tony Stewart pledged all of his winnings from last Saturday's Nascar race to the Iowa flood victims. I know that the NFL was selling ball caps for the Parkersburg Relief Fund. We can't be too proud to accept whatever help, from whomever offers it, is given when it is desperately needed. Look at Cedar Rapids, IA. That is a tragedy in itself. Whatever assistance we can get should be well received. Maybe we won't get the attention that other victims have received in the past, but Iowans will be thankful for all the help, love and togetherness that is given in our time of need.

Iowans are hard working people and they face disaster like they face everything else. They go to work. When I was younger I lived out in San Francisco and at one point found myself out of a job. I found another job. Someone asked me why I didn't apply for unemployment benefits. Gosh, it never occurred to me - rather than line up for benefits I just went and got myself another job. I look at government beneits as being for someone else - someone without ANY other option.

The NICE thing about Iowans is that they're NICE. Most people I know here in Iowa pretty much look at everyone else as equal. It's an almost classless society so people are willing and able - even eager -- to jump in and help. And when police and National Guard took charge of the situation --- no one thought to shoot at them -- like what happened after Katrina. Maybe it also helps that the Iowa state of mind is what's left over from the frontier days --- where you look out for each other and help each other. Next disaster, maybe you'll be the one who needs the help!

I think the government expected the Katrina people to act like Iowans. When they didn't the g'ment was completely unprepared. God helps those who help themselves.

This is what Iowa is about. Every call out the city has done for help has been answered x 1,000. I couldn't be more proud of our community.