Flood 2008 Recovery | Marion Patterson

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Remember Iowa’s Deep Waters – The Need Continues

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery, Floods of 2008 on January 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

People from across the country have asked recently how we are doing since the flood. The most usual question runs something like this: “How are things, there? You about all back in place?” This question while well meant, demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of what floods do. This particular series of rains that created floods affected about three-fourths of our ninety-nine counties. Think of that! The lack of understanding stems simply from lack of experience. Few people here realized what water could do or how long the process will take. Grand Forks, North Dakota, flooded and burned in 1997. See a report about their progress: http://www.draves.com/gf/ .

Leaders there advise us to plan up to a decade before we are “back to any semblance” of usual. A decade! Holy buckets! That is ten years, 3650 days…the year 2018!

Remember all our city, county, much of the state and the federal buildings were flooded and damaged or destroyed. One hospital had to be evacuated. Main roads into and out of the City were closed and alternate had to be searched out. Commercial traffic by river (Mississippi)…road (I-80, the major east and west Interstate, and I-380 the spur to the north)…rail (The major railroad line east and west) was shut down for about ten days.

To get a better understanding of what happened and the impact watch and look at:

Deep Water – a video about the flood

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=2aDdTjfq9YM

Photos of the flood and its impact on the community

http://jvharmoncrfamilyfriends.shutterfly.com/

People are trying to make things work, but it is tough and tougher because of how matters have been handled or not since the flood by “federal authorities” and “agencies.” We could use some action here.

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Fourth Of July

Posted in Around Home, Flood 2008 Recovery, Fourth of July on July 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little.
by Sydney Smith, writer and clergyman (1771-1845) From: ‘A Word A Day’:

“Find your niche (in this crisis) and do it well.” CJ Zachariasen

Read the front page of the Gazetteonline for a terrific story of how the employees at the city water and wastewater treament plans and many volunteers saved the City’s water supply. 49 of 50 pumps were down! They saved the remaining pump…otherwise consequences would have been dire.

What wonderful weather we have had since the massive floods. Two storms, but those were doozies! A stable in Springville, IA, that escaped flooding was flooded by flash floods from Wednesday’s storm. Too, people whose homes or businesses are exposed to elements probably didn’t welcome the rain. what is did do, was wash some of the dreadful toxic, caustic, and infectious waste from the land…into the river, granted.

Some flood thoughts:

* Westdale Mall, long semi-abandoned, is bustling with activity as local agencies, the government, and relief organizations locate from there.
* One performance of Jay Leno raised $250K for flood relief.
* A Buddhist organization has given over $2,000,000 to people! Wow!
* Relief concerts are underway and one of the leading ones was this weekend on the west side. Floodstock! Complete with tie dye shirts! Fun, monies benefit the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation’s Flood Fund. And, businesses that provided food donated their proceeds, too.
* Brucemore will hold a special and original concert next weekend about the floods. This replaces the planned summer series “Classics At Brucemore,” at least this year. “Moving Home” will feature original script, local artists, and a respite with all monies going to flood relief.
* Volunteer opportunities. As we move from immediate action of removal of flooded materials into “now what” thinking there are chances for people to be engaged in building. Many places and people are still very much in the “recovery” mode, but there are evidences of people being able to see beyond the pile of ruin in front of them. The Gazette and http://www.corridorrecovery.org/home.asp provide excellent, up-to-date information.
* The Corridor Recovery site lists impacts of the flood on the right side of the page. Scroll down and think about the incredible process we have to go through.
* One volunteer with lots of experience said this was more serious than some he has worked because so many governmental, support, cultural, non-profits were affected along with people and businesses. Interesting perspective.
* To see astonishing pictures go to gazetteonline.com.
* Questions…questions…questions….How do we address them all? Remember, we do not have to eat this elephant all at once. Just a bite at a time. But, a strategy is important.

Now for around the yard stuff:

* Early morning – 3:33 a.m. Quiet. One train in the distance. One barred owl…”who cooks for you? Who cooks for yoouuuu?”
* By day the wren was cleaning out the box. Inside, one piece of straw. Outside, drop it, mulching the garden as Rich said. Inside, one piece of straw. Outside, drop it. On and on. Finally, he went to the wire around the garden and then sang at the top of his lungs to attract a female. He flew off and a few minutes later, a sweet little thing flew in, looked inside and sat on the wire nearby calling loud and clear. (video on Flickr)
* Robins have successfully fledged the second hatch.
* Cherries are ripe and we picked a mess for a pie. The birds are into the mulberries so the cherries are ours for the picking.
* A mama turkey clucked her young away from us as we dragged branches from our tree trimming into the far back.
* A pileated woodpecker sent out a deep drumming sound.
* the new tortoise bunnies are not sure about our work around the yard, but Summer Bunny has learned what clover is. Daisy already knows, of course, at a ripe seven years old. Jumping Bean is still jumpy and not inclined to try new foods. But, she seems to be eating pellets well. They are cute. Video on Flickr.
*Fun night with friends eating and watching fireworks.
Flood work continues – one bite at a time.

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One Little Candle

Posted in bunnies, Flood 2008 Recovery, wildlife on July 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

“It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark.” This first line from a song that a college friend taught me years ago can aptly apply to Iowans as we recover from floods. (Please remember, too, this is happening all up and down the Mississippi River drainage.)

Deep thanks to the many people who have contributed to help people here.

*Friends who go each day to muck out homes, wearing protection against mold and raw sewage.
*Family and friends from afar who have made monetary contributions to nationally recognized organizations or to specific ones like the Nature Center.
* Complete strangers who, on hearing part of the story make a contribution, trusting to our integrity that the funds will go where they are indeed best needed.
* Organizations with which we are affiliated that have had a drive to contribute funds.
* Churches near and far whose parishioners have worked, contributed, donated, counseled.
* People who have donated calling or gift cards, paid motel bills, sent a letter, made a call.
This will be a long process. We will be “dealing with” this in December, next year, and the next year….

Yours may be only “one little candle” but it lights the way. We will continue to “Pay it forward.”

By the Numbers:

* 233 square miles of Cedar Rapids were affected.
* As of Friday, 36 levees have been overtopped along the Mississippi River.
* Record precipitation has exceeded that of 1951.
* The sewer plant will be closed at least another three weeks. That is a lot of raw sewage flowing into the River. Reduce flushing and dig a pit toilet out back if you can and use it!
* The old landfill is re-opened for 90 days. Maybe more.
* At least 400,000 cubic yards of garbage are being deposited there. That is more than we produce in a year. Think of two football fields each 60 feet deep in garbage.
* 39 homes are completely unsafe for re-habitation.
* 443 homes are “unsafe” and their fate will be decided later.
* An international Buddhist service organization has partnered with The American Red Cross
and is giving out gift cards to families in Palo, IA. So far more than $160,000 to 309 families. How wonderful!

Nature Notes: The fawn is very cute and a bother when it eats my rhubarb. Mama Turkey safely escorted her brood of eight across the street. Made me think of Robert McCloskey’s book, Make Way for Ducklings. Our two new bunnies are Summer Bunny, bought on the first day of summer; and her sister, Jumping Bean, who is very skittish and jumps around like a Mexican jumping bean.

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"When Bad Things Happen to Good People"

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery, Help on June 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

The Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book provides some insight and comfort in this difficult time. Too, a handout from Kathleen Horan, current board president of the Indian Creek Nature Center, and a professional in human service fields. In chapter four of Kushner’s book, “No Exceptions for Nice People,” he writes to the mis-notion of “acts of God,” (insurance companies like to refer to natural disasters in this silly way) Kushner counters that the phrase alone is taking God’s name in vain. Nature, is “morally blind.” Nature just is. Things happen.

God is not morally blind and does not choose one above the other. “God stands for justice, for fairness, for compassion….The act of God is the courage of people to rebuild their lives after (the disaster) and the rush of others to help them in whatever way they can.”

So in the Floods of 2008, which are continuing down the Mississippi River with levees failing (and NO, the muskrat is not to blame for the failure…why didn’t the Corps of Engineers or some responsible agency fix the holes? Someone apparently knew about the holes if they could in short order blame muskrats.)

Kathleen Horan distributed this paper based on information gleaned from the Iowa State and Wisconsin Extension Offices.

Emotional Recovery after a Disaster

Disasters bring with them a range of emotional responses. Being able to recognize and cope with these emotions is an important part of the recovery process.

Phases of Disaster

There are four phases of disaster and emotional response.

1. Historic Phase (This is the correct term) – This is the period immediately after disaster occurs and emotions are strong. People often are engaged in heroic actions as they work to save their own or other’s property.

2. Honeymoon Phase – Usually lasting from one week to 6 months after the disaster, this is a time when there is sense of having shared a dangerous experience and lived through it.

3. Disillusionment Phase – This phase generally lasts from about 2 months to one, even two or more years. Strong feelings of disappointment, anger, resentment and bitterness may appear. Many outside agencies and helping organizations have left and victims may feel the loss of community support as they work on rebuilding their own lives and solving their own individual problems.

4. Reconstruction Phase – Survivors come to realize that they will need to solve the problems of rebuilding by themselves and take responsibility for the tasks. This phase generally lasts for several years after the disaster. New buildings, new plans and new programs affirm people’s belief in their community and their capabilities. If signs of progress are delayed, the emotional problems that appear can be intense.

Coping Skills

1. Let people help you. The additional help can make a difference between coping and suffering.

2. Take care of your physical and emotional needs. Eat a balanced diet. Try to get enough sleep. Talk with others about your feelings and listen to theirs. Look for positives in the situation.

3. Be patient with one another. It is natural to express disbelief, anger, sadness, anxiety and depression after a disaster. Emotions and moods can change suddenly.

4. Don’t overlook the feelings of children as you deal with the disaster. They need to know they can count on you for extra attention, love and support. Reassure them they are not responsible for the problems you are facing.

5. Refocus on the big picture, instead of little details and the little problems. Don’t expect things to be restored instantly.

6. Remember that a support network is essential. Family members, friends, clergy and professional counselors can all be part of the necessary support.

7. Show by words and actions that you care. A friendly arm or a few words of support can be a big help. Don’t be afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. Ask how you can help and remember that even small, kind deeds can mean a lot to others.

Supporting Those Around You

1. Tell others that they have done a good job.

2. Laughter can help relieve tension.

3. Be considerate. Small kindnesses matter.

4. Express love and concern often.

Signs of Depression

The sadness, anger and helplessness that many people feel directly after a disaster is very normal. After a few weeks though, ongoing symptoms of depression may require the help of a professional counselor.

Signs to watch for include:

Constant feelings of sadness, irritability, or tension
Decreased interest or pleasure in usual activities
Loss of energy, feeling tired despite lack of activity
Change in appetite, significant weight loss or gain
Change in sleeping patterns, difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, sleeping too much
Decreased ability to make decisions or concentrate
Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
Thoughts of suicide or death

If you notice these signs in someone, encourage them to seek help. Local resources include:

Clergy at church or synagogue of choice

Foundation II Crisis Line 362-2174

United Way Referral 211

Abbe Center for Community Mental Health 398-3562

Prepared by Kathy Horan, President of Sisters Health Club, on June 24, 2008

Source: University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension Service, Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service

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Triage to Long-Term Care to Recovery and Staggering Statistics

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery on June 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

A difference exists between triage and long-term care and steps to recovery. The American Red Cross and individual chapters are experts at “triage” care. Immediate needs. According to Red Cross volunteer workers the Novellino family from NJ they are alerted to crises, and then get a call to fly out to certain areas in need. The American Red Cross teams with and the Southern Baptists to provide food services (and probably other help) – food, semi trucks loaded with cook gear, etc. to help people in the “right now” need time. The workers refer victims to FEMA and SBA who supposedly are “there” to help get folks back on their feet. But, I wonder. I hear lots of stories of people going to locations, filling out forms, scrambling to find a fax or copy machine, and then, the wait. And, then the rejection of application.

So, who is really there to help? Perhaps it is churches, non-profits, and just plain people. In this flood case the first two are both under duress, as they, too, have been flooded out. There also is a huge disconnect between people who are directly or indirectly affected and those who have not at all been affected. People are back to flushing and washing with little thought that the sewer plant is still not up. So…where does stuff go when I flush or drain my dishwasher? Think about it. Maybe a lesson or two on infrastructure would be helpful.

Many thanks to the friends and family who, from afar, have financially helped the Nature Center that is facing at least $100,000 damage not to mention the loss of income. Also, the colleagues across the country who have offered help or who have “just shown up.” Ames, IA, UU; Wahpeton, ND folks; a family from Connecticul; another man from the East Coast who hopped in his car and was in CR within 18 hours, pitching in with the pitching out. “Wind rows of peoples’ lives, now heaps of garbage.”

Here are help organizations to consider:
Grant Wood Chapter of the American Red Cross, 6300 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Salvation Army, Corps Center, 1000 C Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, 200 1st St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 (They have relocated to Kirkwood, but this address will get mail to them)

You can also consider contributions to any of these type organizations and find their website. If you send something directly to our address, I’ll make sure the contribution gets there.

If you love music – Paramount Theatre
If you love theatre -Theatre Cedar Rapids
If you love cultural diversity – National Czech and Slovak Museum, African American Museum
If you love art – Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
If you love social services for youth, people with disabilities – Mississippi Valley Girl Scouts, YMCA, Waypoint (formerly YWCA), Henry Davis Center, ARC (Association for Retarded People), Foundation 2 (troubled youth)
If you love religious diversity – Mother Mosque, First Presbyterian church, St. Patrick Catholic church, New Life Pentacostal, Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Redemption Missionary Baptist Church, Good News Baptist Church, Any number of southern Baptist churches in the area, Cedar Rapids Christian Center, First Christian Church, Central Church of Christ, New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ, New Life Church of God in Christ, Cedar Rapids Christian Center, Zion Luthern Church, Bethel AME Church, St James United Methodist, Sharon United Methodist, Life Line Ministries, Olivet Neighborhood Mission, Hispanic Ministry, Edan United Church of Christ.

This is just a partial list. You can contact your denomination and see where churches are located in Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Waverly, Iowa City, Columbus Junction….

thank you all for the help you have given – known and unknown.
The work of transformation begins.

Some staggering statistics: (The latest I have heard, which will probably change)

* Cedar Rapids generates about 350,000 cubic tons of trash a year. This disaster will produce at least 400,000 cubic tons. Now, think of two football fields filled with garbage 60 feet deep – each!

* Think your safe box in the bank is safe? Think again! They are NOT insured. So, why have one? You may be better off buying a good home box and putting goods there. Oh, you will get the usual scpheel of think of theft, fire, tornadoes….well, think again. Everyone’s stuff is likely gone.

* Fecal Coliform counts are expected to be under 200 colony forming units per 100 millitiers. (Take a two liter bottle, divide it in half. A milliliter is 1,000 of that. concern is when counts rise to 200cfu per 100 milliliters. Cedar Rapids with no sewer plant yet, is producing 68,000cfu per 100 milliliters! Yikes! that is a lot of those little disease-causing buggers floating around and multiplying. Eeeuwch!

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The Work Of…

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery on June 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Singing The Living Tradition, the Unitarian-Universalist hymnal and Readings book has a reading
(# 615) from Christmas time that makes me think of the times now before us in Iowa, and parts south along the Mississippi River that have flooded and eroded so severely.

“The Work of Christmas”
“When the song of angels is stilled,
“When the star in the sky is gone,
“When the kinds and princes are home,
“When the shepherds are back with their flock,
“The work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the brothers,
to make music in the heart.” Howard Thurman

Here is my version of this thought:

When the television crews have packed up,
When the radio stations stop broadcasting the news,
When YouTube hits are down,
When the President and congressmen are back in DC,
When society’s attention turns to another “crisis,”
The work of rebuilding is just beginning.
to locate the missing,
to reunite with family and pets,
to begin to muck out,
to gather up the wind rows of garbage, once people’s lives,
to assess the damage,
to repair infrastructure of roads, bridges, buildings,
to decide how to rebuild, renovate, or remove,
to tend and mend the wounded spirits,
to care for and thank volunteers and low-paid rescue workers who come in,
to re-think community,
to transcend devastation,
to….

MJP (c)

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Eeewwh!

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery on June 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

We are tired. Bone tired. But, there is humor as we grub out the mess. There is certain, justified anger too, when the entourage of three military ‘copters thundered overhead with “dignitaries” inside. Not once, not twice, not three times…six times the helicopters circled overhead past the water treatment plant, back up the river and overhead, again. Six times! None of them bothered to stop and help, no one threw money from the sky. So, stay home. Stop diverting needed resources, hotel rooms that evacuees need (not your cadre of “press agents” and sycophants), and personnel to accommodate your too late visit here. We will need ten times what was sent in 1993.

Dan did his best to contact people in DC today to get into the “press conference” with Mr. Bush. What a joke, when he brings his press pool of people who ask only approved questions. But, Dan didn’t get there.

Cedar Rapids, How do you smell? Let me count the ways:
* You smell like chalky wall board
* You remind me of the brackish waters along salt water sloughs in the East – pungent, putrid stagnant.
* You are earthy, mildewed compressed board that crumbles in my hand.
* You are dusty dried mud that makes me sneeze.
* You are strong smelling, clean smelling Pine Sol.
* You are crisp bleach.
* You are fermented honey from ruined bee hives.
* You are warm yeasty pizza arriving.
* You are salty, buttery popcorn in the bag.
* You are Odoriferous.
* You need a bath…but we don’t need more water right now.

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Fly Over Floods

Posted in development, Flood 2008 Recovery on June 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

On Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, Jim Seifert with Merrill-Lynch, flew Marion along with journalists Dawn and Dan over the Cedar and Iowa River drainages down to Burlington, IA, on the Mississippi River. The view was spectacular and disheartening. It is clear to see why more than 1/3 of Iowa’s 99 counties have been declared “disaster areas.” The rivers are doing what rivers in high water times do – spread out! You could clearly see ancient and more modern floodplains, the various terraces of land, the lack of water ways to hold back draining fields, the eroded land, old wetlands, new development on floodplains, safe areas, rafted barges on the Mississippi waiting for water levels to go down, halted trains, and so many communities and farm under water.

How much water was flowing through Cedar Rapids and points downstream? One comparison that has been made: Think of the Mississippi River on a normal day flowing through your hometown!

We really need to re-examine the “myth” of 100 and 500 year floods. While the concept is mathematically calculated, it seems to me that people skew data and its interpretation to suit their needs, not the reality of life. These types of floods are not ones that happen only once every 100 or 500 years. It is the probability of one happening in any given year. (See links above) But, colloquially we have taken to believing that these types of events happen only every 100 or 500 years. Education!

The flyover was quite depressing and enlightening. One set of pictures I have shows a new parking lot with drainage right into a drain that feeds to storm sewers .8 of a mile from the river. It is just north of the flooded main USPO and west of the Mercy Medical Center that closed and evacuated due to sewer back up. Hmmmm. Let’s think, folks.

So, as we begin to think about “re-building” I encourage people to shift their thinking to a different paradigm of how and what we develop, when and why. So, we do not have to pay out some more “pair of dimes” to repair damage.

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Flood Recovery II

Posted in Flood 2008 Recovery, Floods of 2008 on June 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

“Any river is really the summation of the whole valley. To think of it as nothing but water is to ignore the greater part.” Hal Borland, This Hill, This Valley

Naturalist, Margaret Wolter, wrote this prophetic quote on the white board at the Nature Center to thank volunteers for their help with programs this spring – before the floods.

Sunny, cool, and breezy weather has helped wick off moisture. Still the Rivers are receding more slowly than hoped. Monday the Nature Center staff planned strategy to work the recovery. Later, Rich and I helped a nearby family that was flooded by flash floods from Indian Creek. Oh, the mess, the loss, the courage. Two families I know from the past were there helping, so it was nice to re-connect even under these difficult times.

Some of you have asked, “How are you doing?” Personally, we are above the flood. The Nature Center sustained considerable damage along with at least a dozen non-profits in downtown CR. These organizations usually help others. Now, they are in desperate straits.

“How are you doing?” Certainly, people are in shock, tired, trying to be optimistic, working hard, are uncomprehending of the magnitude and far reaching ramifications of the flood and the manipulation of economic and land use systems that combined with natural forces to create problems. You might be hearing of floods downstream on the Mississippi River. This is a disaster that reaches far beyond Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. Levees on The River have been breached, flooding millions of acres of farmland; Ten east and west railroad lines are flooded and no trains are running; barges, that carry raw goods north to south are stopped; major and smaller roads that carry trucks filled with both processed and raw goods are washed out causing trucks to find lengthy, alternative routes. As one transportation representative said, “We are paid to move goods, not sit here.” So, money lost will come home to roost.

In other words, this flood affects you!
* Like to eat chips? Made from corn. Transported by trucks.
* Like to eat beef, pork, chicken? Fed corn. Transported by trucks and trains.
* Winter oatmeal a favorite? Made right here in CR at Quaker Oats. Many oat fields flooded and reduced in acres in deference to corn for “ethanol production.”
* Love your SUV? Fueled with “ethanol” made from corn.
* Fond of the latest cheap styles imported from China. Travel by ship to west coast, put on cross country trains or trucks that are sitting waiting for bridges to re-appear, be inspected and deemed safe to cross.
*….you get the idea. This is serious. Referring to the quote above, perhaps we have been ignoring “…the greater part” of what water and rivers are.

Lynn Noel, Voyages: Canada’s Heritage Rivers

The river moves from land to water to land, in and out of organisms, reminding us what native peoples have never forgotten: that you cannot separate the land from the water, or the people from the land.

Now, some random observations:
> Alliant Energy’s command centers were down! Even though the three main ones are separated, one was flooded and the other two were under tornado warnings.
> Quiet…eerily so…just a few small planes overhead scouting the land, tracks….
> And very busy in some areas. Wow!
> Many places were built on known flood plains. What were “they” thinking?
> Who invented the myth of “100 and 500 year” flood levels? It’s time to re-think.
> I programmed my cell phone to vibrate and a bullfrog call to alert me to a call from Dan who was on his way here from NYC. Just as I set down an item near the “wetland septic” system full of cattails, I heard a “ribbit…ribbit” and thought, oh, cool, a frog! Then it dawned on me.
> Very nice of the hospitals and Health Department to buy and give for free over $100,000 of tetanus shot serum.
> One person waiting in line for a shot noted that the city was washing the streets down. Seems ironic, even though it is necessary.
>Finally, one man went to get his mail, after service was resumed. On top of the packet of mail was his water bill!

So it goes.

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