OT: Iowa Flooding

I was watching McNeil/Lehrer Newshour tonight, and they did a story on an Iowa Farmer that lost everything. I"m sorry for your loss just doesn"t get it. I know the vast majority of you out there in YT land are against government bailouts, washouts, etc. For the most part-your right. But I cannot see as a taxpaying citizen these areas that were flooded not receiving federal aid. We cannot afford to lose these farmers, the government wastes every dime of my tax money, MY VOTE IS FOR MY TAX MONEY TO GO TO THESE AREAS. If you are an affected farmer-you feed this nation, federal aid is not a handout-this country needs your abilities, and this devastating act of God must be shared by all. I just reflect back to the part of the story where the farmers wife was essentially saying the felt the reality was they themselves should only be responsible for recovery. As a taxpayer I disagree, I disagree. The federal government should absorb some portion of the loss of these farmers, this nation cannot feed itself without them.

I would like to find a charity where 100% of donations go to help victims of this flood. I don't want any of my donation going to China, and certainly not those ingrates running Myanmar.

I think they ought to be helped to the extent that victims of other disasters, like Katrina, were assisted. I do think that homes built of floodplains ought to be relocated after the 2nd flood. The taxpayer's shouldn't have to rebuild after each flood.

Folks in Iowa, and other effected areas, should get same treatment as those in Katrina...NO, wait....The folks out west should get more IMHO.

Is the first time in history the Mississippi has flooded that area.

100% dead on
I DO NOT understand why our country is so generous and eager and abundant and YET does NOT want to help our OWN WELL BEING.

****in' stupid country.

the kicker is if it was a tornado no problem your insurance will fix ya.flood oops no we do not cover that even tho you are not in a flood plain.
get a hold of your elected reps and let them know it is unacceptable to let the insurance companies walk away.
heck in parkersberg the feds gave 4.1 million dollars for cleanup that rightly the insurance companies should have paid!

The area where the Iowa and Mississippi rivers meet was one where the levees did not hold this year.The last time there was a flood there was in 1947 when an ice jam cause the levee to break. That time the town near there only had a water in 40% if the town and not deep. Some farms were flooded deeper. In 1993 the levees held and it did not flood due to a couple of feet of sandbags along many miles of river. So as long as the levees hold the area does not flood. Without the levees then it would flood every couple of years. Tough call as to how much the taxpayers should be responsible for people who build in a flood plain. Most homeowners policies offer flood insurance at a not too high rate but most don't take it since it has been so long since it flooded there.

Thanks for the history lesson. I live in southwest Louisiana and I also don't have flood insurance but I don't know of it flooding where I live ever. I may have to pay for it one day.

The difference between the Katrina event and the Iowa floods and how aid comes into play is.....the people in Iowa are salt of the earth type people who are, and will pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. Most of what I saw and experienced in the Katrina event was people who, for some strange reason, felt that the government owed them something. They didn"t seem to have enough sense to even attempt to take care of themselves.....leave it to the government to save us type attitude. I know I"m speaking way to general, I"m sure that Katrina effected some mighty good people too. However, I think aid should go to the people that are willing and want to help themselves, not dead-beats that are expecting a bail-out.

The Salvation Army does pretty good not using the money for overhead or sending it out of the country.I refuse to send any to the Red Cross.

sad thing is that a lot of farmers are going to go belly up due to losses and not being able to get a crop in. News gave a figure of them not surviving. Won,t write number as I couldn,t believe it.. We don,t have enough jobs to take everybody in.

actually the federal goverment offers the flood insurance but most people are just to stubborn to buy it ,so let them suffer the taxpayers should not bail out cheap skates .

They may be able to pull themselves up, but. The guy they were with had like 3 acres of corn out 800, already had all of that sold-so he now owes the difference on what isn"t going to be harvested, and pretty much lost every pig. They said nothing about the equipment, as to whether the tractors went to high ground, but all the sheds were underwater. I can"t see any hope for them by themselves. Selling off the property for subdivisions to pay for his loss wouldn"t be acceptable-the government would be on the hook for more loses. I have no problem with my tax money subsidizing farming, if this country can"t grow it we will be in deep trouble-look at oil, gas. We are now beholden to overseas interests.

God help us all, I mean nothing seems to be going right for this country. Food prices next year are going to make gas prices look good. It is exceptionally depressing.

I agree with the way one person on the news put it. You live on a fertile plane and make a lot of money 9 years out of ten, then get flooded one year, so whats your loss? The Miss. has been flooding since time began so you know what your getting into when you move there.


The Whiners have it...

The floods will continue to worsen. Not necessarily because of "climate change." Road get wider, driveways get paved, mall parking lots get built, farm fields get tiled -- the rain we get runs off faster and into rivers whose bottoms keep getting higher as they naturally silt in.

The Federal government to reduce future losses should look towards buying more flooding rights along the rivers.

Build a two-tier system of levees. A short levee near the river that prevents the 1-in-5 year or 1-in-10 year flood, and a larger levee further out for the 1-in-100 year flood. No building between the 100 and 10 year levees, and years the 10 year levee is over-topped reimburse for losses similiar to crop insurance. Maybe just buy the land outright and lease back for farming, with the lease priced so the farmer assumes the risk (i.e. it's cheaper to lease it, farmer can figure out if you'll take the risk and go for a bigger profit in good years or buy insurance in case it's a flood year).

The real salt of the world are the California people that stay there with threats of fire, earthquake, mud slides, etc. They are really tough.

As far as production needs, heck we still have lots of land in the CRP. The big farmers are farming the government--look for yourselves at EWG farm subsaties.

The president offered us lots of government money--oh wait !!! We were offered as much as we spend overseas in our war against someting for some reason, whatever catchy name it has now. OH yea my mistake---a little over what we spend in one month that is.

You no doubt feel that we are always better and more deserving than --you know---them others. Why not help everyone in the USA? and choke off the funds for any overseas hand outs till the budget is balanced.

Blame anyone you like, but everyone of us gamble, and some win and some loose. If you win we will give you a tax break in the USA. If you do not get a gift from your parents we will call you lazy probably. Some of us blessed folks have no idea what it is to loose everything. Some can't afford to live up on the hill and buy more insurance for whatever. Many can't afford to live because inflation has not made them wealthy as many of us have harvested. Some folks did not catch a break, they just went broke. We need to be thankfull for our gifts, and sometimes our gift of knowledge, some a gift of luck.

For everyone who got wealthy after a disaster--as others have claimed to know suck cases, there are thousands that lost everything, and will never recover. This in IOWA is real, I was blessed to live on high ground in a town without a river or stream, or a tornado.

While I'm up and a stompin FEMA is a joke at best. The max. of $28,000.00 is 22 months away for anyone if it is like the last flood in our area. FEMA in the last flood did not help one business, or church. They were there to prommise a bright future for home owners. They for a large part were there for the pay off to the bankers that held the morgages. And NOT FOR THE FOLKS THAT LOST EVERYTHING.

Our crops look kinda tough as our nitrogen was washed away or shoved down out of usable sight.

Red Cross was great in Elkader Iowa, and the young folks worked there butts off.

Parkersberg tornado made a mess, and the politicians and media centered there attention around them. I wish I could have helped more, because they deserve it, and so do many others that got no coverage at all. I'm so dang ticked at our government making nothing more than photo options when so many folks cry themselves to sleep at night.
For those who suggest Iowans should pick up the pieces--take a good look because after a tornado the pieces are pretty small and scattered, and after a flood they are very wet and muddy.

On the bright side we as a country can get er done, this time it may take a little more time.

For those that see nothing but sun and roses after being kicked---well maybe you just have not been kicked enough yet. Just kiddin on that one.

I hope I did not scare anyone, just venting as yesterday I was driving the DAV van going north on I 380 leaving Iowa City heading towards Cedar Rapids when we met the King is a coming croud. We estamated 45- 50 autos with lights of every color and as bright as my ol hound dogs front tooth. The Press - a dent I guess was in a chopper making sure there was actualy a real flood. Any guesses how much money that ordeal cost the tax payer? I'm a thinkin about as much as the flood re--leaf package they will be a sending.

The previouis 8 of 10 years have been miserably tough for farming - very cheap grain prices, lot of EPA $$$ stuff if you are in livestock.....

Last year & this year were the 'payoff' years, where you can make some real money, cover your losses from the other 8 years that were financially miserable.

Guess these folks are supposed to live off of 1 year in 10, with your view.

--->Paul

It is really hard to say one group should get help just because they grow our food and another group should not get anything.
These people flooded in the mid west also choose to live in a flood plain and that is no differant than living below sea level in New Orleans. You still depend on a levee to protect your home.
I am sure everyone flooded out had a chance to buy insurance to cover this loss; and if they choose not to buy it then why should I as Joe taxpayer have to bail them out.
Everyone lives in some kind of natural disaster area. It could be river flooding; hurricaines; wild fires; earthquakes; ect. The list goes on and on.
So what do we do; Help everyone everytime; or stand back and help no one.
I kind of come down in the middle somewhere because I do not believe in bailing you out but I do believe in giving you a helping hand to get back on your feet when you have been kicked down.

I am willing to help anyone that is willing to help themselves and learn from their mistakes.

I think I will stop there because you really do not want to get me started because I live in the New Orleans area and have seen first hand the goverment owes me something and should take care of me croud.

It appeared to me that some people lived between the levve and the river. I know this is true because I travel river road in Davenport sometime and you can see these houses.

Very well put NE IA, whoever you are! Somewhere along the line the beat WON'T go on.

Well, I live in Iowa, had all my corn flooded out, and I'm not expecting a nickle's woth of help from anybody. My farm is mostly bottom ground so I take the gamble every year. Some years I win, some I lose. When it dries out I'll work it up and plant some millet or sorghum and either feed it myself or sell it to cattle farmers. Most guys around here are too lazy or ignorant to think outside the box like that, they just want to sit in a tractor or combine a couple months of the year and rely on the government to help support them when they can't.

As for the Parkersburg tornado, it would have been better if the feds would have just stayed away. The community was pitching in, homeowners were hiring contractors on their own to do cleanup and start rebuilding, but now FEMA is there and really mucked the whole process up. They closed the dump site and are only letting the out of state company that was the low bidder pick up the debris. If they would have let the local contractors and homeowners continue the cleanup, I believe it could have been done in two months. At the current rate they are going it will be well into winter. Homeowners are wanting to rebuild as soon as possible, but are unable to get rid of the rubble and debris to begin digging.

Well since I work im Cedar Rapids Iowa,I will share something.
People arent standing around waiting for the government to hand out a bag of money.
The folks have banded together and are helping each other out.They dont feel they are owed any thing.If its offered they will accept.
FEMA has its place in Govt,and folks are happy for what they will get and arent griping about what they wont get
The midwest flood victims are THE SALT OF THE EARTH.
Randy In Iowa

Maybe it just rained alot more than normal?

I have been down in the mess the last 4 days cleaning up . There are lots of people just showing up to help,,complete strangers . People passing out clean up kits, food, money tools. Everyone is pitching in together to help each other, it is amazing . Had to wait on FEMA to look at buddies house before we could start gutting it. Once they checked it over,,an army decended on it . It is almost gutted and ready for power washing .

Actualy if you look under Village idiot you will find me. I'm a old man whos been kicked a few times myself. Ben to the Nam, volenteer fireman close to 30 years and on the EMS crew for 30 as well. I volenteer to drive the Disabled Veterans Van whenever. I spent the last week and a half working the floods. Tired and angry perhaps at our government most of the time as to what gets money and what don't.

I helped in Parkersberg, and told those folks that FEMA probably was intended for good things, but they are part of the governmment so away we go. It's just sad that they all think that they are ok because of FEMA, and must learn the painfull truth in most cases.

AS others have said Iowans are good at helping others, and I hope when I'm gone they will say that about me cause I never made my million, and never married a super model, so I guess that's the best I can do. But reality will set in soon as to not having a thing, and the donated help and funds will soon slow down.

Perhaps I have a bad habit of observing how helpfull some are, and yet there are those that well maybe don't help others so much. Our fire department had to make alot of tough choices the last while, and we do feel bad that we can't be everywhere. But don't kid yourself for one moment we have a few Iowans that cop a atter towed about helping others. A person can't help but wonder about what goes around can come around.

Can anyone say nationwide tax revolt? Lets get down to what really needs to happen here folks, a wake up call is long past due. They peeeeee all the tax revenue that we are forced to pay on policy, special interssts and their own personal political positioning and on "the right way to do things". Need something done, oh wait, we need to form a commitee to investigate the "proper" way to do that. By time anything gets done it alot to little , alot too late. By time they finish their analysis and pay the blood sucking government advisors, consultants and way over or under paid contractors, it's a miracle anything happens, physicaly or monitarily, the fed just can't chew gum and walk anymore, too many out of control chest beaters. Fema's involvement in N.O was a joke and from what I saw, always will be anywhere else too. I know that the citizens that made this country what it is could do a far sight better than those pocket lining dc traders at spending our money wisely. Is it any wonder other governments get overthrown? The fed can't even shut down the speculation on oil futures, how in the world could they mobilize any help of substantial quality for any disaster in our country in a timley fashion? Take a look around, can anyone name one thing the fed has done for us? Outside of take our hard earned money? Ooh, ooh, my economic stimulus check, thats right, and its for the feds benefit, what a lie.

Tax revolt
Line item veto
Term limits
Prisons in Mexico
Eye for an eye
If that doesnt work, airstrike.

You are right.

It'll rain like that again a few more times in our lifetimes.

How many?

This is interesting, I guess they pick and choose who's political comments to delete.

So you farm 8 years at a loss. When did you expect it to get better? You're going to make so much money that it'll make up for eight? Bought like hitting the lottery.

Unfortunately, when FEMA shows up, they start writing checks with wild abandon. I live in Charleston SC and was here during Hurricaine Hugo. Most everyone got some type of damage, some worse than others. They set up food stamp booths and anyone could just go up and pick up food stamps, no proof of loss of income or anything. People I work with, including my supervisor at the time got them. They never missed a paycheck and certainly wouldn't have qualified for them otherwise. They turned them back in when the Mayor said people would be investigated for fraud if they obtained them under false pretenses. A co-worker got a car painted courtesy of FEMA. No body damage, just scratched paint from a tree limb. Me, I had to pay my insurance deductible just like normal people to get my house fixed.

How long you planning to live?

My guess is we're coming towards the end of a cycle of turbulent weather. We saw this before in the 20s and 30s, and then had a fairly mild five decades or so with only the occasional bad storm. So we might see two or three or four decades with few monster floods...then we'll be hit again by a series of them.