US News

Iowa deep under water, billions in damage, drinking water emergency

Jun 15, 2008, 21:36 GMT

Washington - The inundated US state Iowa faced more dramatic flooding Sunday as the Iowa River pumped more than three meters above flood stage submerging a university campus in Iowa City. Iowa City resident Mike Morony (L) and Paul Sueppel (R) along with about 100 other volunteers help sandbag the New Pioneer Coop in downtown Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa, USA 15 June, 2008. EPA/DAVID K. PURDY

Iowa City resident Mike Morony (L) and Paul Sueppel (R) along with about 100 other volunteers help sandbag the New Pioneer Coop in downtown Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa, USA 15 June, 2008. EPA/DAVID K. PURDYWater was receding in the worst hit city Cedar Rapids Sunday as other cities sank deeper, including the state capital of Des Moines. Many small communities in the state have been completely evacuated, in Cedar Rapids alone nearly 25,000 of the 120,000 inhabitants had to flee, some were permitted to return to their homes on Sunday, although about 1,000 square blocks still stood under water. Also, CNN reported the first victim of the flooding in Iowa, who had chosen not to evacuate was found drowned. The head of the US disaster management authority, David Paulison, expressed fear that other victims may be found in flooded buildings. Drinking water was scarce, since three of four purification plants in the city flooded and storage tanks had became contaminated. Altogether, only one quarter of the usual quantity of clean water was available. The city called on citizens to limit use to drinking consumption, emphasizing that remaining potable water was under severe threat of contamination. In view of contamination the city offered free tetanus shots. Hundreds of homes in the city were severely damaged after the Cedar River flooded its banks following heavy rainfall. The regional authority for disaster management said it will be several days before it is possible to determine which buildings are safe for people to enter. Evacuated residents were required to prove their identity at control posts before they were allowed to return to some homes as waters began to recede. Damage estimates in Cedar Rapids have reached about 735 million dollars (about 477 million euros). In view of that Iowa Governor Chet Culver expressed concern that floods around the state will result in a billion dollars (approximately 650 million euros)in harvest losses alone as crops are ruined in the worst flooding in the state in 15 years. Culver said 83 of the state's 99 counties had been declared disaster areas. After a dam burst on the outskirts of Des Moines about 270 homes were evacuated before they were flooded. In Iowa City parts of the state university were flooded by the Iowa River, including a performing arts theatre and a museum, where millions of dollars in artwork had been taken to dry ground, CNN reported. Hopes are now focused on improved weather. Meteorologists forecast sunny weather in coming days. Heavy rainfall has submerged much of the US Midwest. Some areas in Indiana resemble typical lake areas of Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In the city of Quincy in his home-state Illinois democratic US presidential candidate Barack Obama helped to build sand bag barriers. Nearly a 500-mile section of the Mississippi River is closed to navigation.

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IowanJun 15th, 2008 - 23:22:01

One more natural disaster for Bush and company to screw up. How to turn a natural disaster into a man-made one is Bush's forte. The republicans under Bush have been the biggest un-natural disaster ever to hit the US.

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The life of an pathetic child that won't grow up:Jun 16th, 2008 - 01:23:55

Your flooding = Bush's fault...

Your rain = Bush's fault...

The doctor slapped you on the ass = Bush's fault...

Your bed wetting = Bush's fault...

Your fathers disappointment = Bush's fault...

Your stubbed toe = Bush's fault...

Your no prom date = Bush's fault...

Your lousy job = Bush's fault...

Your halitosis = Bush's fault...

Your ear hair = Bush's fault...

Your Judy Garland loving son = Bush's fault...

Your prostate the size of a beach ball = Bush's fault...

Your living in a state run nursing home = Bush's fault...

Your mortality = Bush's fault...

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Also an IowanJun 16th, 2008 - 04:07:51

Let's not get carried away by blaming Bush. I don't like the guy either, but this entire tragedy is created by Mother Nature. How everyone deals with it is yet to be seen as the magnitude of this is horrific. People are looking to the Governor, at this point, for guidance. We'll discover how Bush deals with it when he is through traipsing around Europe.

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Iowan to 'the Life...'Jun 16th, 2008 - 05:09:57

As usual the neocons misunderstand everything. The federal aid and recovery programs will be as screwed up as those for Hurricane Katrina. That is the slam against Bush and company. Not against motherf*cking nature. So get a fricking brain you asinine idiot. Then learn how to think with it. In the mean time all you are is cannon fodder for Bush's misadventures in the world.

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At least Bush showed up for KatrinaJun 16th, 2008 - 05:34:14

Late, as usual, but at least he gestured some compassion by flying over it.

The usual line of crap from the White House Press Orifice:

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-iowaflooding-bush,0,1899626.story

DES MOINES, Iowa - President Bush is in Paris but White House press secretary Dana Perino says she is keeping up to speed on the Midwest flooding. She says Bush got a briefing on the situation from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Director David Paulison. Bush expressed his concern for anyone still in danger, and for those who are hurting from the impact of the storms.

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(They could save time and make a rubber stamp of this kind of non-statement)

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Up to my (_*)Jun 16th, 2008 - 06:52:37

Bush would screw up the Lord's Prayer, if he knew it. As it is with cue cards even that is a dicey adventure.

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It truly is Bushes faultJun 16th, 2008 - 06:55:07

The economy tanking is Bushes fault

The Iraq debacle is Bushes fault

Katrina disaster after the hurricane was Bushes fault

Stock market dropping is Bushes fault

Real Estate market non-intervention is Bushes fault

And yo mama being ugly is also Bushes fault

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Up to my (_*_) in floodwaterJun 16th, 2008 - 06:55:37

Bush would screw up the Lord's Prayer, if he knew it. As it is with his cue cards even that is a dicey adventure. I don't want his kind of help. We'll be better off without it. My family will get through this.

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abeJun 16th, 2008 - 10:09:28

This stuff was predicted by meteorologsists for a few years now,completely consistant with models for changing climate ,easy enough to google.Now tell me again the failure to implement measures to safeguard us against climate change are futile :
freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031210/posts

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SP4: why yes,(not-so-honest) Abe...Jun 16th, 2008 - 13:48:42

...because as we all know, the river has NEVER gone over it's banks before now...

Perhaps we can get GW Bush to swoop in and suck all the water up...or he can drop sandbags from B-52's.....

Tell me, how can so many people actually be dumber than GW Bush?

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