<p>They've removed the art from the art museum, cancelled summer classes and freshmen orientation programs, closed the main buildings including the union. Now they're trying to get books out of the library. And the river isn't expected to crest until Monday. Such a beautiful, vibrant campus -- so very, very sad.</p>
<p>Dude, like 90 percent of Iowa is flooding. There are other colleges here that are closed due to flooding. It happens. It's called... INSURANCE. It'll be ok.</p>
<p>I've been following this story, as well, especially since my daughter was/is supposed to attend a summer program at U. of Iowa beginning in a few weeks.
My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, DesMoines and all the other communities in Iowa affected by the flooding.</p>
<p>AJH -- I live in the Midwest; I'm very aware of the extent of the flooding. This is a college website, which is why I mentioned the University of Iowa. Of course lots of people, businesses, and other colleges are affected, too.
And just because there is insurance and eventually all will be fine does not mean it's not a big deal to the people involved.</p>
<p>How's Grinnell?</p>
<p>^Jazzymom, I was wondering about this, as well, since at the end of my D's U. Iowa program, I was planning to travel there and take her to Grinnell for an admissions visit. </p>
<p>I did find the following reassuring news on Grinnell's website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
As much of Iowa and the Midwest battle rising waters, we are fortunate in Grinnell to confront only storms, waterlogged gardens, and wet basements. When the Rock Island Railroad identified "the summit of the divide between the Skunk and Iowa Rivers" to intersect their tracks, then J.B. Grinnell established his "colony," and then trustees relocated the campus in 1858, it assured the College — figuratively and now literally — would stand on solid ground.</p>
<p>Our thoughts go to our fellow Iowans and Midwesterners who are struggling with flood waters that threaten homes, businesses, and communities. We hope you, your family members, and your friends are safe.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are by far hit the hardest, and the scary part is that if the UI campus floods--might as well bring in the Ark. Some areas are in low spots, but generally the campus sits at one of the higher elevation points in the city, and is I believe the last area to flood but it's still flooding bad. </p>
<p>Cedar Rapids has 438 city blocks underwater (by several feet), 20,000+ are evacuated, the levees are failing in Des Moines, Interstate 80 is shut down for 2 miles east of Iowa City--creating a 110 mile detour because other major highways (Hwy 30 and I-380) are also shut down in areas. This is worse than the 500-year flood we had in 1993. Cedar Rapids and IC are both in severe danger of losing their power and water for weeks, possibly months before power is fully restored.</p>
<p>Luckily here in Ames (Iowa State) we are fairly dry, just some wet basements and flooded fields. Had some minor flash flooding a week or so ago but nothing major. Thankfully people are doing what they can to help out with sandbagging, an event that now seems to have been done for nothing w/ most of the sandbag walls topped by the river, but they definitely bought some extra time. </p>
<p>The NCAA Track Championships are in Des Moines right now and while Drake Stadium where that's held isn't affected (directly), many many many track teams have picked up shovels and helped to sandbag in downtown Des Moines and along the riverbanks. These students may never come back to Iowa and won't meet the people they're helping, but they're giving up time to help us out. I saw on the news last night footage of South Carolina and Washington State specifically helping in the morning, and just a few hours later some of those same students were shown running their races.</p>
<p>Was the 1993 flood the one where the Mississippi was flooding badly, too? I remembered something about that flood when I was watching the news coverage yesterday, though I sure didn't think it was that long ago!</p>
<p>I thought I remembered that some wondered whether Cedar Rapids would/should be rebuilt. Am I remembering that correctly, or was it another city?</p>
<p>1993 was the Mississippi flood, as well as the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers through downtown Des Moines, which is where those 2 converge. Sadly the downtown area along the river was just starting to revitalize itself after the '93 floods these last couple years with bars, cultural events, the ballpark got some upgrades, new condos/apartments, and now they'll probably have to start again. </p>
<p>The Cedar River is demolishing Cedar Rapids and the Iowa River is wreaking havoc in Iowa City. Even further south in Iowa, the Cedar and Iowa rivers converge, which is just asking for more trouble. Luckily the Mississippi hasn't flooded--there was some minor flooding there a few weeks back but nothing this bad.</p>
<p>Haven't heard anything about if they'll rebuild Cedar Rapids. It's a decent city, with some cultural centers, minor league hockey and baseball, small D-3 LAC (Coe College), and close to Iowa City. I know the Iowa River through IC isn't supposed to crest until Monday (!!!!) and maybe later!</p>
<p>NPR interviewed the head of the libraries at U of Iowa. I got choked up as she described how people just poured in to help move the books up to higher floors.</p>
<p>We are still waiting for the crest on the river here in Iowa City. There is new word that the reservoir crested overnight. The devastation in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City/Coralville (adjacent community) is beyond description. Some smaller communities throughout the state are also completely under water.</p>
<p>The campus will take the brunt of the hit in Iowa City. It is truly heartbreaking. We have been sandbagging for days and days. The outpouring of community resolve and support has been inspiring. As a transplant to the midwest, I've never been more proud to call Iowa home.</p>
<p>It is far too early to know the timeline for recovery but there is no question that we will recover.</p>
<p>Coverage for Iowa City can be found at
press-citizen.com</a> | Iowa City Press Citizen | Iowa City news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Iowa City, Iowa</p>
<p>Thanks for all the concern -- please keep doing the "anti-rain" dances...</p>
<p>musicmomic, thank you for that comprehensive link. Over here, in Pennsylvania, we're certainly pulling for Iowa's recovery. I've never been to IA, but from what I've read and heard up until now about the UI campus and surrounding community, it sounded like a great place; I was, and am, looking forward to visiting it, as well as Grinnell.</p>
<p>Iowa is a very nice and often underrated schools. It has great dedicated students and faculty and is a real source of state pride. As I recall their fine art museum was down close to the river also. I hope everything is safely moved and that they can get through without permanent harm.</p>
<p>mommusicic - We're very busy here doing the "move the rain from Iowa to Texas dances".</p>
<p>Seriously, here's hoping the water recedes quickly so the business of cleaning up and getting back to normal can begin ASAP. H is a cat-loss adjuster gearing up to head that way.</p>
<p>barrons is correct. The art museum on campus is excellent and is located on the river. Word is that all art pieces were removed before the water entered the building. </p>
<p>The river crest should occur today -- we're hoping that is indeed the case so we can begin the recovery and healing... We have had more rain today but not heavy or for prolonged periods. </p>
<p>Keep dancing...</p>
<p>I just looked at the link provided by musicmomic. The president of UIowa said that the Art Museum had 3-4 feet of water in it, and that 3 more campus buildings were taking water. There was some measure of comfort in looking at pictures of the devastation, and seeing the large number of young people, high school and college, girls and boys, helping to sandbag in Iowa City and around the campus. Musicians had come out to entertain the volunteers while they were working. There are several Old Order Mennonite and (I think) Amish communities south of Iowa City. Some of the pictures showed Mennonite girls, in their bonnets, ankle-length dresses, and Nike's filling sandbags, while their fathers and brothers, along with non-Mennonite neighbors, piled the bags to protect threatened buildings. I was born and raised in Iowa, and all my family still lives there. I was talking with my sister. She lives in a small neighborhood of about 15-20 homes. Walk to the edge of her backyard, and it's about a 30 foot drop down to a small creek; in August I could spit across it. Now it spreads out a couple of hundred yards on the other, flat side, inundating the high school football field, an elementary school, a parking lot, and a road. A couple of their neighbors' homes were threatened by the rising water. In true Iowa fashion, the entire neighborhood turned out to help sandbag the homes. After finishing the job, they all stayed to grill brats, drink beer, and have a good time.</p>
<p>The post in Grinnell's website states:</p>
<p>Grinnell safe and sound amid Iowa flooding</p>
<p>Here's hoping the worst is behind you, musicmomic.</p>
<p>Does anyone know whether there are opportunities for college students doing summer internships at Iowa to transfer them elsewhere. I am referring specifically to my nephew, a college senior who has a summer intership in the chemistry department at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. There is a very good chance that he will loose the internship and needs one for application to graduate school. I recall that after Hurricane Katrina, many colleges and universities opened their doors to students. Have other colleges made offers to take these interns under their wings?</p>
<p>Obviously there are worse situations throughout the midwest than my nephews situation but I send this out just in the chance that someone might know something to which I inquire'
Thank you</p>