Prayers for the family

[MikeBjerum]

The call came 

I'm making final arrangements for a truck and quick refresher (length and weight are no issue as I deal with that on a regular basis, but I ain't shifted that big a gear box in a decade).  We can get back into the area after 6:30 tonight, so with the line up of others we figure it will be 7:30 or 8:00 when we start loading.

We will bring everything up here and put it in our garage with a dehumidifier, and pray for the best.

[MikeBjerum]

Just got home.  We arrived down there at about 8:30 and friends already had the entire house in the garage and front yard.  We backed in set the ramp, and in an hour and ten minutes everything that was going was packed in the trailer.  We had a little left over pizza, some hugs and headed back home.  The trailer will sit in the yard till Saturday morning, and then we will top our house and garage off with everything.

They are set to the point that we can pull the appliances and little things with the 12' trailer if needed.  It sure is nice to have it this far, and now we hope that we can move it all back this fall.

The best thing about this is watching friends pull together to help each other.  These people have been emptying basements, sandbagging and moving each other from place to place for a week.  All they talk about is the great party they will have when everyone moves back in this fall.

[Solus]

Just got home.  We arrived down there at about 8:30 and friends already had the entire house in the garage and front yard.  We backed in set the ramp, and in an hour and ten minutes everything that was going was packed in the trailer.  We had a little left over pizza, some hugs and headed back home.  The trailer will sit in the yard till Saturday morning, and then we will top our house and garage off with everything.

They are set to the point that we can pull the appliances and little things with the 12' trailer if needed.  It sure is nice to have it this far, and now we hope that we can move it all back this fall.

The best thing about this is watching friends pull together to help each other.  These people have been emptying basements, sandbagging and moving each other from place to place for a week.  All they talk about is the great party they will have when everyone moves back in this fall.

Some how I doubt FEMA would be giving anyone such warm feelings....even if they did manage not to show up a day late and a dollar short.....and then, of course, there is the possibility of being billed for the service later. 

Dump government assistance and keep it local.

[MikeBjerum]

Some how I doubt FEMA would be giving anyone such warm feelings....even if they did manage not to show up a day late and a dollar short.....and then, of course, there is the possibility of being billed for the service later. 

Dump government assistance and keep it local.

We were there working last Sunday and Monday, I attended one community meeting, I have read and watched several media reports, and there was last night.  I have not seen and heard everything, but Solus, you are the first one I have seen use the acronym FEMA!

I have seen a lot of sandbagging going on, and I have not seen any National Guard or public employee on house lots.  There are large parking lots in Sioux City where sandbags are being filled and piled for residents to pick up, but I still see hundreds of residents with shovels filling, loading and hauling their own.

I have said it before, but it is heartwarming to watch this community pull together and help themselves and their neighbors!

[MikeBjerum]

This link explains out the rest of the year will be going:

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/collection_1759913e-992b-11e0-9ee6-001cc4c03286.html#0

I looked to see when they were taken, and the one of clearing the Highway to the Sun is dated June 15, 2011!

Tuesday they increased the flow at the Gavin's Point dam to 150k cubic feet per second, and that was supposed to be the max flow.  Yesterday, when the increased flow reached Dakota Dunes, the levee started to erode.  The National Guard spotted it right away, and it was repaired right away.

There are now reports in the paper that they may be increasing the flow even more to protect the dams.


The official reports give interstate reports in little blurbs, but reports from trucking firms we deal with say I-29 is closed from Sioux City, IA to Omaha, NE; 680 around Omaha has issues and spotting closures; and figure on not taking I-29 south of Omaha all the way to Kansas City (it hasn't reached there, but so many highways are under you can't count on getting back to the interstate).

With the snow in the Rockies just getting started on melting and the heavy rains we are getting recently I just pray this will be over before winter hits.

[Sponsor]

[tt11758]

This is what the folks along the Missouri River are dealing with right now.

https://picasaweb.google.com/104592539075472798431/TheGreatMissouriRiverFloodOf2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLLaoO7rm_qp1AE#5618512518227309218

[MikeBjerum]

I am most concerned about one specific home in Dakota Dunes, and for a friend in Ingomar, MT (60 miles east of Round Up), but this is happening all the way from the mountains near Billings, MT all the way to New Orleans eventually.  A lot of people will be suffering before this is said and done!

[Ulmus]

Prayers sent to the family.

May they all be safe.

[MikeBjerum]

It's party time!

Last night we loaded the semi again, and at 10:30 this morning it was back in the Dunes.  When we left for home this evening the resettling was about 75% done, and they were headed to a friend's house for some steaks on the grill.

The last few days have seen most of their neighborhood move back in, and the emergency secondary levee is coming out.  The people in the lower areas have been told they can start moving back on Sept. 15th.

The rivers have receded to a level that is still above flood stage, but it is low enough that the water is not up against most of the levees.  From the looks of the damage on buildings at a marina and city park, and on the fences along the interstate it looks like the water is down about 10-12 feet.

Photos of I-29 on both sides of Omaha show that that road will be closed for months yet.  Where the waters have receded the interstate is completely destroyed, and there are many miles that are still under flowing river waters.  If the water level continues to drop I think they will be able to get in in spring, but they will need to tear everything up and build an whole new road bed.

We'll deal with that as we travel, but tonight we are just happy to be to the point we are, and the kids are so glad to not have to sleep on an air mattress!

[ellis4538]

Thanks for the update. 

Continued prayers go out to you and yours.

God Bless,

Richard