My wet, wet home town and alma mater

[Uncle Yuan]

Well, flood waters are supposed to peak in Iowa City and its "suburb;" Coralville, today.  Barring more rain.  And it rained more yesterday.  The campus has been hard-hit, with the student union, journalism building, main library, art museum, theater building and Hancher Auditorium all flooded.  The flood of 1993 hit the 100 year flood plain mark - water so high that you'd expect a flood that severe only once in 100 years.  This flood has hit the 500 year flood plain.

My mom and sisters are well away from the river, but live in a low-lying neighborhood.  Their basements will stay dry only as long as there is electricity to run the sump pumps.  The worst impact is drinking water - the water treatment plant is under water, as are the bulk of the well pump houses.

The local paper has scads of photos for those interested: Iowa City Press Citizen

[El Condor]

This has been a catastrophe across many states this past week, but Iowa in particular.  I don't know if everyone is fully aware of the magnitude of devastation, but it's vast and horrible.  Truly troubling times for all of those poor people  :(.  My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who are effected both directly and indirectly.

EC

[captainspud]

What's causing it? Just lots of rain?

[Uncle Yuan]

What's causing it? Just lots of rain?

Yep.  A lot of snow in late winter, a cool rainy, spring and a very early, very strong start to the summer storm season.