That new rainforest known as "Iowa"

June 12, 2008 1:25 PM

It has been a nasty spring in the upper midwest. 1993 was supposed to be the "big one"...turns out this time it's worse for Iowa.

In Iowa, the fun started three weeks ago with an EF5 tornado killing 8 people in Parkersburg and New Hartford, Iowa (Previous MeFi). Last night, 4 boy scouts died in a tornado in Western Iowa. On May 30th, Ames experienced significant flooding.

Currently Iowa is awaiting the cresting of the Des Moines and Cedar Rivers in Central and Eastern Iowa. I-80 is going to close near Iowa City, possibly for several days. Almost 10,000 people have been evacuated in Cedar Falls, where they are without power and 911.

To many, this is fly-over country. Corn country, some say. But when 55 out of 99 counties have been declared disaster areas, you have to wonder how it will affect grain prices in the already stressed out economy. It most certainly will not be knee-high by the 4th of July.

Governor Culver says Iowans will persevere, but you can't deny it feels a bit like the apocalypse around here lately.

posted by sararah (3 comments total)

I forgot to add, because I couldn't find the link, that the Cedar River has the same volume of water in it as the Mississippi would have in it at flood stage near Davenport Iowa. And it's just a tributary...
posted by sararah at 1:27 PM on June 12, 2008

This post would be a good addition to the post that came just before.
posted by ardgedee at 1:35 PM on June 12, 2008

Sorry, but this is a double FPP - almost a triple, but I caught mine and added it as a comment to the earlier one.

Cortex, help! Combine us into one powerful flood post - dripping with information.
posted by Muddler at 1:36 PM on June 12, 2008