Second Flood~

 Just in case - those of you who don't live in the Midwest think that our flooding has subsided...  You'd be wrong...  The last of May, the flood waters returned with a vengeance.   Taking out both I-29 & Hwy 34 yet again.  Work that had gone on almost non-stop, halted.  Both had been re-opened & are now closed again all the way to Missouri.

Over the Plattsmouth Bridge~

 The Plattsmouth Bridge was also closed again, due to flood waters on the Iowa side going over the road.  This left people with only two options to reach NE.   Either up through Council Bluffs to Omaha, or the Bellevue Bridge.  The bridge at Hwy 2, used by many to the south to reach Nebraska City & Lincoln was also closed with water over the road.  

The Missouri - taking over its flood plain~

We we've been looking at another vehicle for me, my thumbs are so bad that I can't easily open the doors of the Bronco anymore. I'd also like heated seats for winter! Since the bridge had just re-opened for the second time, we took that way to reach a dealership on the Nebraska side.

Water everywhere~

Several weeks ago, we drove through the town of Pacific Junction. It was a horrible sight to see, homeowners had gone back in & cleaned out their homes. Piles of debris, some almost as large as the homes themselves had been moved to the street for pickup. Just heart-rending sad to see this & I did not take photos.

Both sides of the road~

The Glenwood Resource Center has become the hub for the flood victims. Originally serving three meals a day, thanks to the local church groups who took turns working to cook & serve those meals. The last figure I heard, they had put out over 130,000 meals.

Our way east toward home~

The scope of the disaster will be felt for years, re-building the levee's has been delayed by the newest onset of melt-water from the north - along with a terrifically wet spring.  

Thank you to Silver Cloud Photography~

Silver Cloud Photography has done a terrific job of photographing the floods...  The photo above was taken May 31st.  Those displaced have been offered government buy-outs & most have accepted.   That still doesn't take into account families who have lived in this area for generations & now are loosing not only their home or farm, but also their history on the land...

I-29 was recently re-opened, but there are no open exits from Glenwood to the Missouri state line.  

With Summer now here & the heat going up, we're experiencing high dew points, with crazy high humidity.  So much water trapped, the bugs are taking over.  Driving down the roads, clouds of insects cover the windshields.  Levee repairs have been delayed too.  Iowan's are a tough - resilient people.  Staying positive & moving forward even in the face of disastrous times.

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...