Democratic and Liberal political analysis and commentary

Iowa's tagline could be, "A River Runs Through It." Iowa is the only state that has rivers as both its east and west borders. And, as you can see by the map, plenty of rivers, streams and "cricks" in between.

A statistically improbable flood has beseiged our state. In 1993, a "100-year" flood hit the state. Caught unprepared, many cites found themselves surrounded by water, but due to contaminated flood water swamping water treatment plants, unable to drink any of it. Or even flush toilets.

Since then, our state leaders and congressmen have done yeoman's work in making sure nothing that catastrophic happened again.

They didn't count on the Floods of 2008. Wow. Cedar Rapids has taken the biggest overall hit, though Des Moines is getting it's scare right as I type this post.

A river levee near North High School (just North of downtown) broke this morning and North is now an island. They are calling for more sandbaggers on TV right now. Heavy equipment is trying in vain to shore up the sandbag levee with more soil and sand.

I live 3 miles from the river, but here's the road I take to work. So much for a 7-minute commute. So many roads are closed that it took me 45 mins to get there on Friday. Near where this photo was taken is the lovely Gray's lake, around which Trixie the dog and I walk every weekend. It is now one with the river and the trail completely under water.

My house is safe and dry. It amazes me that my hundred year old home's basement is just a little damp. I turned on my dehumidifier the other day. That's it.

My parents live in the "voluntary" 500-year flood plain evacuation area. Dad is ok with just staying until something happens and then packing up the Buick and driving to my brother's house. My parents have more types of insurance than anyone I know! (subtle teasing...)

So, in case anyone was wondering, I am fine, kids are at work, I am blogging and watching TV. I have a ton of friends who have had to move offices and belongings just in case. Check out KCCI.com or DesMoinesRegister.com for more information. Also, a nice social media site run by a Des Moines Twitter guy, is at IowaFloods.com.

I don't think our flooding is any more important than anyone else's flooding, but I think we get more media attention from national media. It must be because we are special. :~)