Letter Re: More About Recent Flooding in the US Midwest

Jim,

I’m sending a follow-up to your link on the historic flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Typical issues: Roads closed or collapsed, bridges flooded or swept away, traffic jams for miles, power and gas outages, water shortages, businesses closed, forced evacuation of 20,000 people included the local jails and a hospital. Cleanup will take months, and there will be shortages of construction material. Heck, we had shortages of lumber and sheetrock in Iowa during the Florida and Louisiana hurricanes.

And what has become typical – jurisdictional disputes. Local law enforcement has its own issues, but FEMA doesn’t play well with others.

Armed police and National Guardsmen stood ready to prevent you from re-entering your neighborhood and your property. First, they and the fire department will break into your home to determine if it is safe for you to enter. Then they “allow” you one trip, only to your home, and only to retrieve what you can carry on your back.

Watch the YouTube clip at the 1:58 mark. Sometimes those who “protect and serve” are not very friendly. And “contraband” items were not overlooked. It would be a kick in the teeth to return home to an arrest warrant.

What made the flood more destructive was the fact that the crest predictions were off by 10 feet and overwhelmed the levees. People who felt safe by moving their possessions to the second floor found that the unanticipated extra 10 feet of dirty river water invaded that, too. One might want to rent a storage garage (on a high hill!) when the flood warning is posted.

BTW, I received my .45 ACP Springfield XD [pistol] Saturday along with the rest of the Front Sight “Get a Gun” training and gear package. I’ve attended Orange Gunsite for rifle and pistol, but it’s been some time. This [pair of courses at Front Sight] should be fun. Thanks for giving me the push I needed. – Redmist