A wooden pallet floats down a flooded street Thursday, June 12, 2008, in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Officials estimated that 100 blocks in Cedar Rapids were under water forcing the evacuation of nearly 4,000 homes and leaving cars underwater on downtown streets.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Gary Austin, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Cedar Rapids, sent this personalized update this morning:
“Water, water, everywhere but not a drop to spare.”
We are seeing lots and lots of water these days–but not where we live. If you’re familiar with our location, you know we should be “high and dry.” But water-use restrictions as well as travel restrictions are affecting our lives right now.
We’re not even sure we’ll have services on Sunday, for the safety of all involved.
The Cedar River is supposed to crest today at 32 feet – 12 feet above the last “record” flood in 1929 and what it was in 1993.
Coralville Dam is all under water. Water is already flowing over the spillway where the fossils are, and it has not reached its crest yet – comes next week sometime. Massive evacuations are underway already in Iowa City – and the University of Iowa campus is threatened. So far the hospital where I go is OK. (I don’t go back until the end of the month.)
The farmlands are devastated. Price of corn has already doubled – which will impact feed prices, which will impact meat prices, cereal prices, etc. Not a pretty picture.
Great to know that God is still in control. Our sheriff even said, “Cedar Rapids is in the hands of God.” BTW, he is a believer!
Thanks for your prayers, emails, and thoughts.
Gary and Jean Austin