Flood

After Lars' graduation, we decided to go take a drive out to the Coralville Dam and see what all the recent rain had done and how close the water was to going over the spillway. I must say, the power of that rushing water was truly an awesome sight. Not awesome as in cool, but awesome in that just by watching it, you could see the pure power and raw force it possessed. Little did we know at the time what the following days and weeks would amount to...

Fast forward about a week and a half and we are in the midst of the worst flood seen in this area's history. Not only were the 500 year flood plain parameters surpassed, but new territory was chartered and no one was even able to comprehend what it would all mean. News stories were filled with pictures of sandbaggers everywhere, any time of day, wherever help was needed. It was truly an inspiring time of community togetherness. Some people were lucky enough to have sandbagged and not need it, but too many others sandbagged to no avail. Driving up and down the Coralville strip after the waters receded truly looked like a war zone. It was so dusty and dirty, and you could see the water lines on the outsides of these buildings, leaving behind their story of just how high the waters had gotten. Restaurants, I believe something like 18 in all, destroyed in mere hours. Several other types of buildings like banks, office supply stores, Walgreens, hair salons, hotels, carpet stores, all in complete ruins.

So now the cleanup process begins, slowly, to rebuild the damage that was done.