As many of you know, I am currently living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

As many of you have seen, we have had a bit of water up here in the heartland.  The images you have seen on the news do not do the situation justice.  We had five big thunderstorms last Thursday alone dumping several inches of water in Iowa. 

We were asked to leave the Crown Plaza Hotel on Wednesday afternoon as the flood waters were beginning to overtake the downtown and I-380 bridges.  By Thursday afternoon the flood stage had been surpassed and people had to leave work if they were going to get home.  In order to get to Iowa City 20 miles to the south of Cedar Rapids, you had to go north to Waterloo, across eastern Iowa on Highway 20, south on I-35 to I-80 and then west to Iowa City… a 290 mile circuitous route. 

I have never seen a house on a railroad bridge before.  There was a dead Northern Pike on First Street last weekend.  Some guy during the flooding actually went fishing near the First Street walkway some time last week.  He caught a rather nice Catfish from what I am told. 

Most of the houses in the downtown area belonged to families of lower incomes.  Many of the people who lived downtown have lost every thing and many do not have flood insurance.  The basements of most homes needed to be pumped out and the foundations are ruined.  Hence many of the homes will be condemned.  Rational thought has left for the next six months and there are a lot of stories of folks doing some pretty strange things.  One older gentleman was hollering at the military police at a check point.  He did not want to see his house; he did not want to get his belongings.  He wanted to know what was up with his three cats.  One gentleman though he could dress up as an Iowa Guardsman and get through the barriers.  Wear the right shoes when you are impersonating someone in the military.  Your Nikes will not get you past the check point.

  One thing I don’t think we are seeing enough of is the outpouring from friends, families and just plain ole people how feel a need to help.  There is a long stream of folks who have come to help clean up.  Numerous groups from around the area have stepped forward to volunteer. 

The Iowa National Guard has been sent in to help and these men and women are doing a great job.  I went to Sam Walton’s place today to get food and a few things.  I had to thank the young gal behind the counter.  Wal-Mart in Marion, Iowa is having huge sales all throughout the store.  I could get 4 one liter bottles of Caffeine Free Diet Coke for $5.00.  I love their loaves of French bread…. 2 for $3.00.  Numerous food items were 2 or 4 for $3.00 or $5.00.  No one compelled them to do these acts of kindness. 

I hope all of you will remember these simple random acts of kindness and forget about all of the misery the numerous news networks seem to be showing.  When they call for volunteers, they don’t come in groups of 30, or 300.  They come in groups of 3000. 

People will look back on this as one of the most tragic events this area has known.  The water went 22 feet above flood stage here in the Cedar Rapids area.  The town of Palo was completely under water.  At the same time this has been the mid-west’s finest hour.  I had no idea who the person holding the sand bag was last Monday night.  We have never laid eyes on each other.  We just know there are a lot of people needing our help.  And it feels great to be able to contribute in whatever small way we can. 

It is a stark contrast to the scenes of mayhem we saw just a few years ago.   If you want to see a place where hope lives and breathes, come to Cedar Rapids, Iowa soon.  Don’t be surprised if we hand you a shovel.  Your reward will be great conversation with regular folks who will no doubt thank you for coming and lending a hand.

im a dot...  Mark Hasara