The Wait for Water~

 We wait daily - for any new news coming from either our town Facebook pages, or from the Glenwood School District.  City officials have been relatively quite when it comes to providing the community with information.  Most of us are relying on the GSD updates that are informative & give an idea of where things stand with regard to our fresh water service.  Mills County Emergency Management starting sending out updates on the 22nd.

3.27.19  Glenwood Water Treatment Plant

No end in sight?  That was the last part of the lead line in our local Opinion-Tribune newspaper, distributed yesterday.  Some of the statistics in the article are impressive.  Just the cost of hauling the water in, is $40,000. per day...

A new well is being drilled, but had a set-back last night.  (Click on the link to view the video.) They're going 350 feet down, it's not an easy operation & they're working night & day.  Once they have the water, it's supposed to take anywhere from 3-7 days for DNR to do the testing.

Our boil advisory is still in effect.  That makes it difficult for the local restaurants, but most, including the Gathering Place are still open & serving hot meals!  Here's another video on our news.

We've become a town of porta-potties & boxes of bottled water, along with collection points to return the empty bottles.  Smaller trucks fill up nightly & set up shop in town, offering fresh water for those who bring in their containers.  A huge help to the community.

I still have pots & the tub full of water that we were told to collect prior to the boil order.  A shower is about 30 seconds & glad to have it!

NE State Patrol~

Everybody is helping Everybody!  It's the greatest feeling to see so many doing so much for so many more!  One of my favorite video's is courtesy of the Nebraska State Patrol.  There is very little negativity here.  Even those who've lost everything, look for ways to lend a hand.

Some photos almost make us laugh!  Iowa State Patrol

Butch drove the choir on a 350-mile round-trip to Nebraska yesterday.  He said the damages there are as bad as we've seen...  Both states are planning a full scale effort toward recovery!  (The choir won the competition!)
 
Today, we're back to gray skies, but so far the rain has remained very light!  Things still don't look positive for the next couple days.  Next week we're to go back into the 60's & that should help - or not - if more melting comes down river?
#IowaStrong

Into the Second Week~

The worst of the huge crest of water, from what I've heard, came in late on Saturday night the 16th & into Sunday morning...  No one had any idea it would be as terrifying awful... 

This Monday, I had an appointment north of Omaha.  It was the first time I'd been out to see what the flooding looked like.  As we turned off I-34 & on to the ramp of I-29, the campground came into view...  Water had been more than half-way up the sides of the RV's.

Campground

On our way back, I had the views to the west.  Word is that the water is receding, slowly...

Southbound side of I-29

It looks like miles & miles of lake...

Photo - Silver Cloud Photography - March 24th

A large horse facility near Pacific Junction...

Silver Cloud Photography

Silver Cloud Photography

The destruction is now starting to show above the water.

Silver Cloud Photography

Meanwhile, in town, everyone is pitching in. The sign-in page for volunteers is full all the way to the first of June. 

The Mills County Storehouse

 At the Storehouse, our local food bank & thrift shop, donations are overflowing.  Now, the YMCA is taking donations & volunteers are cooking meals for everyone displaced.

(Thanks to Silver Cloud Photography for making these images available to the public.)

Interstate 29

The loss to the farmers will be immeasurable.  I was speaking with a lady today who had lived on the same farm since childhood.  She said the flood of 52 only brought water to the bottom step of the house.  Now, the farm is under water..

 Pets have been found floating on pieces of boards.  Several animal rescue organizations have come in to help.  They are hampered by the dangerous conditions that include pollution, floating propane tanks etc.

Pumper trucks have moved in to start pulling the water from areas where it's now trapped.  The weather has stayed mild, a blessing, but we have a forecast of rain & possible snow over the next few days, combined with high winds.

 It seems as if we've fallen off the national radar...  What was news a few days ago, is evidentially old news now.  For so many, who've lost so much, it's finding solace from friends & family.  Our community has come together & everyone is pitching in...  It's heartbreaking to hear the stories each day.  Recovery will be a long process... 

The Flood~

Tinkle Branch was flowing bank to bank on the thirteenth.  It rained most of the following night & the temperatures had warmed.  Keg Creek was already at capacity & woody debris had jammed under the bridge on Vine St.

Vine St. Bridge~

Gavin's Point Dam in SD, started releasing huge amounts of water & everyone downstream was told to take precautions.  Word came Thursday afternoon, the ice on the Niobrara River had caused the Spencer Dam in NE to fail.  That released an eleven-foot wall of water. The Missouri was already running near to flood stage...

Log pulled from Keg Creek at the bridge~

When Butch got home, we drove south of town, following the creek. Water was completely out of the banks & spreading rapidly over the farmland.

Bridge at Kesterson

The wind was blowing bitter cold!  The temperature was around freezing, with the wind was gusting over 30 mph. 

Keg Creek - Looking SW

Friday, the evacuation order went out. Anyone living between Interstate 34 & 29 were told to evacuate.  I hauled what few boxes we could gather & packed books for a friend who's farm was surrounded by creeks & levees.

March 15th water to the top of the Levee.  Iowa side of the Plattsmouth bridge - Photo credit - Silver Cloud Photography

 Levee's, not all repaired since the 2011 flood, started to fail. There was nothing to hold back all the water coming down the river... It was a sunny beautiful day, making it easy to imagine everything was normal. At least in town...

Glenwood Municipal Water Plant

Soon, a call went out for people to fill sandbags!  The City Municipal Water was in the area where the evacuation was in effect.  Over 400 people turned out & worked non-stop.  It wasn't enough...

Saturday, another sunny day.  Butch rented a dump trailer & started hauling rock for the walkway to the cabin & more for that driveway.  On his third trip, after hearing about the water he was seeing, I went along.  We arrived at the gravel company & told they'd been waiting for our arrival, before evacuating.  The road would soon be under water.

By day's end, the scope of the disaster was just too large to believe.  Photos like the one below started appearing on our local Facebook page. 

Photo credit Steven Bogert

Above is Hwy 29 north toward Council Bluffs, with the on ramp from Interstate 34 to the right.  You can see the campground to the right of the ramp.

Campground~

Sunday, since our exit to Interstate 34 was between the two closed sections, we drove west & parked off to the side of 195th, just shy of the bridge.

Steve's photo of 195th, north to Council Bluffs

The road along the hills is the one we took to Council Bluffs. You can see how the elevation of the Loess Hills protect from the Missouri flood basin.

West of 195th & Hwy 34~

Butch had to point it out to me twice, for me to see the railroad crossing sign.

Hwy 34 in the background~

Water was pouring through a culvert & this property on the north side of Interstate 34, was completely flooded.  The road had just opened, but was down to one lane in spots.

By Monday morning, even more water had flowed in...  Schools were open, volunteers were helping out everywhere there was a need.  Our local food bank was in full swing.  We were notified on Tue. to conserve water & by that afternoon, to no longer drink water out of the tap.

The City of Red Oak sent trucks full of water for the town.  Bottles of water started coming in from businesses in Council Bluffs.  As this week has progressed, the strength & resiliency of the mid-west people has been demonstrated again & again.  Homes around town, on wells, have offered water to anyone who needs it.  They have also put together a color coded plan - offering to do laundry!  The schools have had porta potty's delivered & all water conserving measures are in effect.

The latest news is that it will be at least 30-days before we again have drinkable water coming through the faucets.

Tinkle Branch ~

With a forecast for pouring rain, I wasn't surprised to wake to the sound.  As I was getting ready to leave, there were two huge bolts of lightening, followed by a big rumble of thunder.  High winds were expected too, but lucky for us, after a few big blasts, the wind dissipated.

A creek runs through it~

Butch & I arrived home at the same time for lunch. Butch asked me; "Have you seen the creek?!" I had not, but as soon as I looked out the back, I understood his question. Yes! I could certainly see the creek now.

Bank to bank~

Tinkle Branch, was so full, we could easily see it from the house. Normally, we have to walk down & look a couple more feet down the bank to see the water.

Pretty with all the snow~

After Butch left, I put on my boots & walked down to get photos. Definitely the most water I've seen since a big rain storm in October of 17. It did seem a little strange to have all the ice gone & that much silt laden water racing past the snow covered ground.

Upstream~

Area's where I'd tossed big chunks of old stumps & wood were completely underwater. A couple of those holes were over five-feet deep. I'm glad I put them there, hopefully they kept more of the bank from eroding.

Downstream~

As I walked downstream, my footprints were filling with water near the big old cottonwood. At this point the creek was ready to go over the bank. There's another three-foot rise, then the drop to the marsh on the far side.

Keg Creek~

Today was early out, at the schools.  Butch came home & we drove out to see Keg Creek. Towards the far end of Tinkle Branch, the water was stalled & pooling.  I wondered why - until the first view of Keg Creek!  It was running so full that the water coming in from Tinkle Branch literally had nowhere to go.

Further east~

On the road to the bus barn, there were several areas where Keg creek was overflowing it's banks.  By later this afternoon, we had sunshine, blue sky & 60 degrees!  We have a 60% change of more rain tomorrow.  With the snow pack still melting & the ground frozen solid, we're under a flood watch through tomorrow.  March came in like a Lion, I hope it goes out like a lamb!

Back to our Walk~

With the bright sunshine & warming temperatures, the snow had finally melted enough Nika & I decided to go for it & try our walk.  Our loop is through the timber to the west point of our property along the creek.  Turning back, we follow the creek east past the bottom of our yard & usually up the far side.

Nika willing to lead!  :-)

 On the wind swept portion of the hill, the snow wasn't deep.

Looking SE~

I'm still busy admiring all the work we've done to clear this hillside.

On the lower flats~

Down at the bottom, the snow was deeper & we were sinking in about 6". I managed to kick snow into my boot & had to stop to get it out!

Nika at the creek~

  Most of the ice had melted, the water was at it's usual low levels.  The snow was still drifted deep in places.

Downstream~

One of the bigger jams, most of this has come from the uphill side.

Mountain of debris~

As you can see, the size of the pile is impressive. All the wood debris from above gets pushed over the edge toward the creek. At least it's organics & not trash. I've got to think this would help with the erosion too, I just wish it didn't end up in the creek bed.

Nika~

The deep snow didn't bother Nika. She just goes plowing through & gives a good shake now & then! She loves to stick her nose deep into the snow for an especially interesting smell!

Further down~

You can see why it's our favorite walk. I'm looking forward to better weather so I can get back in here to attack the last two big clumps of greenbriar. There's two big dead tree's that have fallen.  Butch will need the chain saw to drop them, since they're hung up just off the ground.

Spring?

I had to do it!  Just had to put up one of my spring flags!  How often will it fly with so much snow still on the ground?

Linus, Butch & Dean, 3-14-18 ~

Last year, this week, we were spending a fortune & all our free time fencing the farm for Farah!  The weather all month had been just perfect!  If it had been like this year, I think we might have realized that horse-keeping away from home wouldn't be plausible.  Over 30-years ago, I asked Butch if I could have a horse.  His reply was;  "Yes, when you can whistle out the door for it."  He was so right...  We both regret not having a primary member of our animal family still with us, but are thankful, often, she's back in a milder climate.   

The Melt~

On the seventh, it snowed again, overnight into early morning, maybe 4 inches total.  The snow was light & dry as dust. Yesterday, even though overcast, the temperature climbed well into the low 40's!  Everyone was out talking about how nice it felt & it did!

North, deep drifts everywhere~

With the warming temperatures, the snow on the ground has started melting. Even the ice began to melt & water was running down the streets. The weather report was calling for rain & lots of it. Flooding became a huge concern.

Last night, I could hear an occasional chunk of ice dislodging down a gutter. This morning, it was raining, over a half-inch so far. Butch drove kids over three-hours away today, so I continued my first quilt type project. We'll see how far I get.

East across the marsh~

Mid-afternoon I put on my boots & started off across the yard. Over a foot of snow/slush! Under that was a layer at least an inch thick of ice. I could hardly get the lower gate open. Later this afternoon the winds came up. They've been whipping the poor trees for a few hours now.

Back deck~

It's been decent enough - 30's - to sit out with Nika again sometime during the day. It's the one time I invite her to sit on my lap - she keeps me warm!

Nika~

Such a beautiful dog, if it wasn't for the daily barking & shedding...  If the temperature continues to warm, we'll be breaking out the furinator before too long.  We're both missing our daily walks in the timber.  Too much deep snow & now soaking wet too.  

West side of the town square, yesterday~

City crews were out clearing big chunks of ice from the storm drains.  County Road Crews have been plowing almost non-stop for months now.  The scene of the square & all the snow would look festive if it was December rather than March! 

March 8,2018

 It's hard to believe that a year ago, we were busily getting the barn ready for Farah & enjoying shirt-sleeve weather! 

The Cold Continues ~

 I think every person in our state, is ready to be Done with Snow!  In the month of February, it just kept coming, setting all-time records.  Saturday, we had a nice dusting overnight.  It was just enough to cover all the dirty snow from the snow plows going by.  I'm not complaining - since while I was in Washington - we had 15" & the neighborhood streets didn't get plowed for days.   This same weekend, our first March here, I was riding Farah at Indian Cave St. Park in NE!

North on 29~

 I have a difficult time explaining Iowa weather to friends in WA.  To have terrible weather one day & wake to brilliant sunshine the next is very different from there.  I don't miss the days or weeks on end of slate gray days.  So far, that has not been our experience here. 

Plattsmouth Bridge~

By Sunday, yes, the sun was shining!  That didn't stop the cold!  As we enjoyed our drive, the thermometer in the truck ranged between 1-3 degrees.  The 15-20 mph wind made it so cold that I was shivering just to get my photo!

I had Butch stop in the middle of the bridge so I could take the video above of the frazil ice floating down the river. 

Lake at Pony Creek~

We ended up going by the Pony Creek Nature Center.  The lake in front was totally frozen over, except for the outflow.  Hundreds of ducks were surrounding the open water.

Snow drifts~

I decided to walk out & around the cabin today & see what the timber looked like.  Butch kept the path shoveled to the porch.  As I walked around the west side though, the drifts were higher than the top of my muck boots!

Crusty snow!

The frozen crust on top, was about 2" thick.  I broke through & there was a crunch sound with every step.  Too deep for me to take Nika on our usual walk.  She breaks through it in the yard & has made a track around the edge, but this is a lot of snow! 

Pristine Timber~

The timber looked so pretty with the deep layer of white stuff. I could just see the wood pile I'd been working on in January. To think - that I thought then - we might have another mild winter! Not! It could be weeks before we see the ground again, especially since our forecast holds more snow showers past the middle of March!

Nika waiting at the corner of the backyard~

Nika's fur coat is the thickest it's ever been.  She seems to enjoy her time out each day, but is always ready to come in when I call her.  I knew full well, when I enjoyed those beautiful snowdrops at Jentry's & flowers at the Seattle Flower Festival, that it would be a long while before I get to enjoy any blooms here at home!