Cedar Rapids Flooding

[Holden McGroin]

Why hasn't the President been blamed for this yet? 

Doesn't he hate whatever demographic lives there?  There must be a rapper who can be interviewed for his opinion.

Isn't this flooding just a way of destroying corn ethanol producers and thereby padding the pockets of fat cat oil men buddies?

Why hasn't the incompetance of the US Army Corps of Engineers been discussed?

It can't be just due to a bunch of rain can it?

Wait ...Rain...  this is obviously due to Climate Change, as this has not happened since the last time somewhere in the Mississippi flood plain flooded, so its back to the fat cat oil men again...

isn't it? 

What has happened to the press?  Are they just asleep at the switch?

[Hornet33]

The explanation your looking for is this. Those folks out there in the midwest, for the most part, are hard working people that don't like handouts. They EARN what they get. They'll take whatever help is offered but they aren't going to scream, cry, and blame a natural disaster on anyone. Give it one year and they'll have rebuilt most everything and done so themselves with their own hard work.

I know, I saw it first hand in 1993 in Keokuk Iowa, and all up and down the Mississippi River from St Louis MO, to Dubuque IA. Those folks live near rivers and they understand that floods can and do happen so they deal with it and move on.

Wonder why people that live in a coastal city below sea level can't wrap their minds around the fact that a freaking hurrican will flood their city.

[DREDIOCK]

Wonder why people that live in a coastal city below sea level can't wrap their minds around the fact that a freaking hurrican will flood their city.

Easy.
Many of them are used to the handouts so they expect it.

When I explain to people why I am against some of the social programs like welfare as it stands now I explain it like this.

when you go into the forest or mountains there is often a sign that says
"Please dont feed the bears"

Now there is a reason for this.
If you give the bears handouts they come to expect it and eventually depend on it and will seek people out for food rather then hunt it themselves.
Then when they dont get it. and sometimes even when they do. they attack the very people giving them the handouts.

Same thing goes with people.

Give them free handouts and soon they come to expect it.
so rather then learn to fend for themselves. they look for the free mealticket
Then when they dont get it. and sometimes even when they do. they attack the very people giving them the handouts.

Such is the case in NO.

[xbrit]

I know, I saw it first hand in 1993 in Keokuk Iowa, and all up and down the Mississippi River from St Louis MO, to Dubuque IA. Those folks live near rivers and they understand that floods can and do happen so they deal with it and move on.

I was over near Quincy IL during the flood in 93 on vacation, this time I'm living here. Everyone around this area just gets out and helps each other, I know in Quincy they have been sandbagging for almost a week now hoping to keep it back this time.
I spoke to a guy from the Corps of Engineers today and he was saying that the water is about 2 feet from the top of the wall now with more rain forcast for this week.

[Hornet33]

I used to go to Quincy all the time when I was stationed in Keokuk. Dated a girl from there for a couple of months. They got hit hard in 93 with the flood down at the water front so I can understand what you guys are going through now. At least most of the city of Quincy is up on the hill. I spent about 9 days up in Keithsburg IL hauling sandbags in 93 only to watch as the levee finally gave way and took the town out. Sucked really bad, but those folks were rebuilding as soon as the water went down and got their lives back together.

[avionix]

Born in Cedar Rapids and my family still lives there.  Sad to see such a nice town like that under water.  I agree, even if I am biased, that people in the Midwest don't like handouts.  Most come from Germany, Norway and Sweden.  Hardy people that bust their butts for what they have. 

[SteveBailey]

5- Flamebaiting, trolling, or posting to incite or annoy is not allowed.

[BTW]

Yea, where are all the poor down trodden people carrying big screen TV's?

The difference in this disaster is no one has to waste time making excuses for the disgusting behavior of the people in the disaster. It still sickens my how the behavior of people in New Orleans was excused. It sickens me that Mary Landrieu coined the term "non-violent looting."
It sickens me that all the day to day stories of regular working class people rebuilding their life board by board in New Orleans are ignored by the media to showcase some government conditioned check collector whining how the government abused them. Its sickening, but if you say anything, you're a racist or an "Uncle Tom." Isn't it funny how rare open discussion is becoming in this country?

But you do see the difference between Iowa and New Orleans. Everyone does. We just aren't supposed to talk about it.

[lazs2]

yep dred.. for once I think you have summed up a situation in a way that I completely agree with.

the bear thing was perfect except...  in the case of bears we are talking about a feral animal in it's nature trying to be tamed by well meaning but stupid people.

In the case of the welfare recipients we are talking about humans who are being turned into feral animals by stupid people.

You are absolutely correct on how handouts make animals and people lazy and dependent.

lazs

[BaldEagl]

The bigger question is why do people continue to re-build in flood zones, on fault lines, in hurricane prone areas, etc., etc., etc.

OK, the Earth is crowded but why in the world do we have to keep bailing out idiots.  If they choose to build/live in those areas then there should be no insurance and no government assistance.  They chose and they should just suck it up when it inevitably goes bad.

Maybe a little natural clensing of the gene pool would be a good thing.

[E25280]

The bigger question is why do people continue to re-build in flood zones, on fault lines, in hurricane prone areas, etc., etc., etc.

OK, the Earth is crowded but why in the world do we have to keep bailing out idiots.  If they choose to build/live in those areas then there should be no insurance and no government assistance.  They chose and they should just suck it up when it inevitably goes bad.

Maybe a little natural clensing of the gene pool would be a good thing.

So, instead of living / working / farming in areas with rich soil, easy access to food, fresh water, mineral deposits, and natural transportation systems, the Human Race should be forced to live in the middle of a geologically inert desert?

[BaldEagl]

So, instead of living / working / farming in areas with rich soil, easy access to food, fresh water, mineral deposits, and natural transportation systems, the Human Race should be forced to live in the middle of a geologically inert desert?

No problem with working the soil in the flood zone.  Building in it and constantly expecting relief is.

Same with ports in hurricane and earthquake prone areas, etc.  The cost of the port itself is minimal compared to the housing, businesses and industry around it.

I live in MN on top of the Canadian Shield.  Other than a few tornados it's geographically inert and it is by no means a desert.

[DiabloTX]

I really don't think Cedar Rapidians ever expected a flood like this.  This flood reminds me of Tropical Storm Allison that hit here in Houston in '01 virtually putting the entire city underwater.  The big difference between what happened here and what happened in New Orleans is we knew we should get out before the storm made landfall, we didn't wait for the government to tell us.  New Orleans, well, we all know how that story ended.  Oh wait, they're still here in Houston, the story ain't over yet.

[E25280]

No problem with working the soil in the flood zone.  Building in it and constantly expecting relief is.

Same with ports in hurricane and earthquake prone areas, etc.  The cost of the port itself is minimal compared to the housing, businesses and industry around it.

I live in MN on top of the Canadian Shield.  Other than a few tornados it's geographically inert and it is by no means a desert.

There, you said it yourself, you have tornados.  I sure hope if one flattens your house, you don't expect anyone but yourself to pay for it.  No insurance, no government declaration of a "disaster area" allowing you to get low-interest loans, NOTHING.  You should have to pay for it yourself.

Obviously you do not have any understanding or appreciation for why towns or citys sprang up where they did or why they remain where they are. 

You also obviously do not believe that systems such as levys or quake-proofing buildings are sufficient to offer a reasonable expectation of safety from all but the worst disasters.  Never mind that the current flooding is above even the 1993 levels, which was a level of flooding the experts expected to see only once every 500 years.  All those "idiots" should have just moved anyway, eh? 

By the same token, then, since a tornado, (or major hailstorm, or icestorm, or 15 feet of snow) will surely hit your city in the next 500 years, it is unreasonable for you to remain there, and you need to find somewhere "safe" to live.  If you do not move now, then you, sir, are also an idiot, and worthy only of "gene pool clensing."

[BTW]

Newsflash BaldEagle - North America is a volatile continent. Good luck in finding a safe spot.