"The worst flooding Cedar Rapids has ever seen." That's how the morning talk show host on 600 WMT-AM just described the devastation. Make no mistake - this is a flood of epic proportions. Nothing like this has been seen in Eastern Iowa in recorded history.

To give some perspective on just how bad it is, here are the river crests for the previous big floods:

Previous record flood in 1929: 20 feet
The Flood of 1993: 19.3 feet
Current river level in downtown Cedar Rapids: ~30 feet and still rising,"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/13/101636/281/684/535293
"Unprecedented." Iowa Flooding - w/ photos *UPDATED*
by DemocraticOz
Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 09:04:20 AM PDT

-snip-

Here's a few comments from that diary:

"it's going to be difficult because the flooding is so widespread. Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana all hit hard.

Roads out, bridges out, difficult to get equipment in.

But Americans always pull together and help each other out".
by whitewidow on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 11:09:54 AM PDT

**

"Sending prayers from New Orleans.
This is heartbreaking. What's the humanitarian situation? Are people getting what they need, and getting where they need to go?
by nolakohler on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 09:15:29 AM PDT

**

"They seem to be at the moment.
They opened shelters in line with the 500 year evacuation plan, and then some of those had to be closed due to either loss of power or threats of flooding.

Water is being trucked in to several of the smaller communities who are completely without it.

Shelters are being administered by the Red Cross, and seem to be functioning well at this point. There are several that are full, but so far OK.

The main problem they're having is that people won't stay out of the water or evacuate when they're told to. They've had 150 rescues since last night because people won't get out.

I can't say I blame them in certain terms. If you live a mile from the river and at a higher elevation, you just don't ever expect water to ever get to your house.

Thanks for your response".
by DemocraticOz on Fri Jun 13, 2008 at 09:18:40 AM PDT

-snip-

I'm also sending prayers for the safety & the well being of all people [and animals] in those areas.