Posted on 06/24/2008 7:06:37 AM PDT by BufordP
 What residents were hoping they could avoid has happened in St. Charles. As feared, part of the Elm Point Levee has burst and water is rushing through right now at a rapid pace. Authorities say that the levee burst in two spots around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday. One of those holes is reportedly the size of a football field. Several homes and businesses in the area are now flooded. Officials say that residents in that area voluntarily evacuated before the breach.
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I don’t know exactly what you’re trying to say, but I live in an earthquake zone, and I have earthquake insurance. Most people here do not. My mortgage lenders were shocked I was getting it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m being responsible to a fault, others aren’t. That doesn’t mean I don’t pitty those without flood insurance, but if you live in a flood plain & don’t have flood insurance, you’re gambling (as those who are living in an earthquake zone without insurance are).
I’m waiting for the folks who believe the feds have spent something like $500,000 per New Orleans resident following Katrina. (Hint: the amount spent is actually for folks in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas for Katrina AND Rita).
Correct, but Historic St Charles is just that-—Historic. It was the first State Capitol and a busy place back at it’s inception. Why is it located as close as it is? Back then, the river was the source for transportating goods and services, commerce, transportation for family exploring the country and traveling, among a host of other things. KC is the same way and St. Louis. Since the development of the historic towns and thousands of others located near rivers, we’ve come a long way in technology and geology and a understanding (not control)of what a river is capable of and does on a regular basis. Unfortunatley, greed and arrogance supersceded and you had a developer one morning wake up and decide that New Town was a good idea. They used man’s ability to predict what Mother Nature will do and are getting spanked and will continue to get spanked as long as they don’t change. There are reasons (mostly common sense) that neighborhoods are not built on the thousands of acres of rich, silty, flat, farm lands next to rivers. The levy busted a couple miles up stream, it could have, and still might bust closer this or next time. The bottom line is this....while we (taxpayers) are trying to get people out of the flood plain spending millions of dollars in buyouts—you’ve got a guy making millions putting them right back in there! Who is eventually going to buy these people out? Should they be bought out? Maybe the developer making all this money should set up a fund for buyouts? A few guys making decisions for the rest of us to suffer while they stuff money deeper and deeper in there pockets smiling and shaking hands at the Country Club slapping their budies on the back planning their next vacation to the Carribean. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous....we might want to include a couple my decriptions along with those!!!
thank god—they are not victims, victims are defined as; a person who has been killed or injured by an action beyond his or her control. This “loss” they are experiencing was a choice to live by a scenic waterway-—it was THEIR CHOICE within their CONTROL. It is a gamble one weighs when seeking a place Mother Nature has total control of. Bless them, as they know they are not victims and don’t have their hands out demanding money. I will gladly help these people because they don’t demand anything from anyone.
God Speed Iowaians!!!!
Apparently you don’t believe government should have to clean up the messes it makes. This is where you and I differ.
I sent your questions to a friend who passed it along to another who sent it to the director of the EPA in Iowa. He of course thinks it is about him and does not get that it is about the media. Intersting responses after the questins, I love the one on the levees.
To:List Supressed
I received this email from one of the people on the forwarding group. As an Iowan and a member of the state government working on solving the problems of the flooding , I hope this email originally from Mr. was not sent to stir up racial annimosity or problems. If it was, I am deeply offended as would anyone who has had to walk through flooded towns, boat through the new “Lake Oakville” (formerly 20,000 acres of the word’s most productive farmland). On the other hand he says that these are serious questions and therefore I will try to give all of you a serious answer.
As a senior official of the government of the State of Iowa- especially one who has been touring our state flood areas- looking at the damage and seeing the looks in the eyes of the people affected I will answer them serioulsy and hope that these answers get back to the people asking the questions. For people whose hearts go out to us in this state and want to help I request you make out a check out to the Red Cross Midwest Disaster Aid Fund. You can even specify Iowa relief. I spent last Friday in Oakville, a town of about 1000 people and the surrounding farms talking to residents, the Red Cross, etc. The Red Cross is feeding people, helping them find shelter, rescuing pets, etc. Helping them would be good. This is a real human disaster and one that should not be made light of. The answers to his questions follow below.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like further information on ways to help the State Of Iowa and its hard hit people.
Henry F. Marquard
Chairman, Iowa Environmental Protection Commission
Muscatine, Iowa
marquardhenry@stanleygroup.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:57 AM
Subject: WHY
My heart goes out to all those affected in Iowa, Missouri and other states
from this devastating flooding. However, it raises a lot of sensitive
questions that need to be addressed.
1. Why aren’t Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in
Iowa, Missouri, and other states affected ? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::The People who did Farm Aid are working on just such a concert, at least thats what I’ve heard.
2. Why isn’t the media asking tough questions about why the Federal
Government hasn’t solved the problem? ::::::::::::::::::::::::: Because its a state problem just like Katrina was. The operations between the USEPA, FEMA and our state agencies are proceeding extremely well. When I’ve been touring damaged areas, I’ve gotten great responses from FEMA and the other involved agencies. The difference between Iowa in 2008 and New Orleanes during Katrina is largely the competence and ability of the state government to be ready to handle things.
3 .Why isn’t the Federal Government relocating people to free hotels and
handing out pre-paid credit cards to everyone like it was candy? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: They have been. Some 35,000 Iowans have been relocated. FEMA has been very good at providing hotels and emergency accomodations for everyone. Since most Iowans have family in state we’ve been able to move people in with family when transportation allowed it. Remember most east-west roads in the central part of the state were destroyed or damaged in the floods. FEMA and the other federal agencies have done a good job here.
4. When will Spike Lee say the Federal Government blew up the levees that
failed in Des Moines, Iowa and now in St. Charles, MO ?::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We didn’t have to blow them up. 22 failed. The damage caused is about $20 billion dollars. The fact that our levees failed probably saved St. Louis from disaster. The 23,000 acres of farm land flooded in Louisa and Des Moines county kept about a crest of 20 feet of water from hitting Quincy ILL and St. Louis.
5. Where are Sean Penn and The Dixie Chicks speaking out on behalf of all
the flooding victims? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I don’t know. We sure have a lot of country singers out here helping though. They are a lot more welcome and at home in Iowa and they wear boots- something you need considering all the water we have.
6. Where are all the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural
people? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Don’t know- Didn’t know he did. As a resident of Iowa I am really disturbed that someone would ask a question like this right now when people are suffering. We don’t need racial debate- we need help!!!!! Cedar Rapids, our most damaged city has our state’s highest minority population as well as large immigrant communities from Eastern Europe. These were people most disproportionally damaged by the flood.
7. How come in a month you will likely never hear about the Iowa/Missouri .:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I hope your Churches and Synogogues keep talking about helping your midwest neighbors. Next week when you get an emergency mailing from the Red Cross I hope you open it and send a check!
flooding ever again?
Hmmmmmmmmm! I wonder!
And by the way! I think its shameful to ask these questions at a time like this. By the way I heard Jessie Jackson has been in state helping out. Mr., have you been out here helping? If not please email me and I can certainly find you a damaged town or community and you can go down there with me and we’ll find a way to help.
Jessie in all this?
Where is that sanctimonious jerk Al?
Why arn’t Whoraldo and pretty boy Shepard standing amongst the victims and
crying on TV day and night bemoaning the tragedy that has affected so many
thousands in the flooded areas? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Who cares when you can have some of the best country and western singers here helping!
A few more questions...
Why are there no murders being reported? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::There has been but we were prepared for problems and have had law enforcement ready.
Why are there no rapes? ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Iowans are by and large a lawful people. There will be a crime increase but it will be small.
Why is there little to no looting? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::There has been, unfortunately in some of the hardest hit areas. Our National Guard, State Police and local law enforcement are working long shifts of overtime making sure order is maintained.
Why are there no gangsters shooting at helicopters trying to help? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Cause they were out filling sandbags with the rest of us.
Why are the victims (gasp) pulling together and helping each other to
overcome and survive this disaster? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Because we are Iowans of every color, race, and creed. People of every race, color, creed, ethnicity,sexual orientation, level of wealth were equally effected. We help our neighbor. We understand community and are damn proud of it. Big city, small town, it makes no difference. We go to the next town and help them fill sandbags. Color, language, ethnic background really don’t matter here and in times like this matter even less.
Why
And we have earthquake insurance AND flood insurance where we live. It adds about $1700 to our yearly insurance bill, but before we bought this house, it incurred $70k in flood damage. I can't afford $70k out of pocket, but $150 a month is fine with me.
Interesting replies indeed. You’re right, he totally missed the intended slap to the air-headed media and celebrities and assumed the typical governmental defensive posture. Sounds like it sure got his bureaucratic knickers in a bunch. ;-) Thanks.
The Government does not have a building sitting in New Town, the Government (for the majority) are not lining their pockets with all of profits from these “sheep” and the sale of these inflated lots and homes with false promises of a river that will NEVER reach them. We need less Government as I’m sure you will agree. The Government didn’t put the marketing out there with the stupid idea to begin with, the Government didn’t escort them down there and make the real estate deal for them. Last I saw, there was no Section 8 Housing available at “Muddy Mayberry” - The Government is definely not innocent in this whole thing, but, the Government gave no incentive to take your assets to a floodplain bean field. ( I know, I know 500 year flood plain (blah, blah, blah...) And, with all do respect, I didn’t know I asked where we differ? Thanks for your input though.
“is the historic area of St. Charles at risk?”
I didn’t get down to the riverfront last night, but from Second and Adams I didn’t see any signs of flooding. The Missouri isn’t as high there as it has been in the past.
I just talked to a guy I work with who lives in New Town. He said the soccer fields are flooded, but there is no flooding at all where he lives or the on the road to his home.
He should feel very lucky!! This thing is not over yet, and these levees will not hold that kind of pressure forever. Next time it could be that Iowa holds, Winfield holds, and further down from the Elm Point Levee breaches closer to Muddy Mayberry. They are on borrowed time and the value of that place probably just dropped in half. Surely he can see what could and most likely will happen. New Town is 2 1/2 miles from the river. Iowa had flooding 7+ miles from the river bed on the exact same type farm land. If that place doesn’t flood, the sewers will be backed up, roads will be shut off and they will be an island.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That can NOT be stressed enough!
Either McDonalds or the 7/11 depending if you want beer with it.
How many miles of dikes does Holland have to maintain in comparison to the US? I think you could fit quite a few “Hollands” into the current midwest flood zone.
Given the bumper crops after 93 it’s not a good idea to protect everything 100% of the time... you will get diminishing returns. It’s better to have occasional flooding... your land gets renewed and it keeps down excessive non agricultural floodplain development which can be ridiculously expensive to insure and protect in an area the size of the current Midwest flood zone.
How many miles of dikes does Holland have to maintain in comparison to the US?
I’m unsure of the answer to that. Probably fewer but it’s not the length I was referring to but the manner in which dyking is done in the Netherlands.
I agree with you about what most of what you say in the rest of your post. I’m no expert. Flooding may be beneficial for the replenishment of land but at what the human cost?
Louisiana was and is a "toss-up" state and so was the nexus of the blame game. I bet Missouri, which has also been toss-up lately, gets a lot of attention. Unless my theory is wrong (which it might be). Are there any tight US Senate races coming up in any of these states?
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