Losing Battle

Looks like nothing anyone could do would hold back the floodwaters. I did not take much for pics today and these are all from the P&S, but it does give you an idea of just how devastating this is and how quickly the water has risen. Please continue to keep all of the flood areas in your prayers!

Today was mostly spent trying to help the little community of Rochester. I was finally able to get away from the kids for approximately 3 1/2 hours, but I feel like I was able to do so little--it simply has gotten to the point where there is not much anyone can do. I'm amazed at how everyone has come together to try to help. I'm sure we have a lot more work ahead of us!

Here is the road to the community; this is in one of the pics from yesterday, and the water is now covering the road.


The sawmill is now completely flooded.


Some areas I photographed yesterday we can't even get to today. One street we drove through (I posted a pic of a house on that street) is now inaccessible...thigh-deep water. We walked through this yard when we arrived, and I took this photo on the way over to a second house after the first one was done. By the time we left after finishing up the second house, this yard was completely full of water, nearly to the top of that truck.


Three blocks in from the river, water had not reached this street, so sandbaggers continued their work as we emptied the house on the right. The water was into his backyard. All of the back streets were lined with vehicles of people coming to help.


The sandbaggers yesterday were up this road, which is now completely underwater. The water is moving and flowing quickly.


Most difficult to see is the daycare...yesterday the water was partly across the backyard. Today the entire basement is full, only three steps down from the main floor and rising. You can see some of the kids' drawings on the basement wall to the right, partially in the water. It was very hard to be here and see the current state of my childrens' daycare, and to know that the family we had grown so attached to had to leave their home.








The business everyone was working at the day before...the water is now well over the sandbags.


This was taken before we left after working on the second house...the water had risen to cover the front yard, where everyone was standing only a little earlier.


This whole thing has been such a shock to the communities in the surrounding areas. Words can't really describe this situation and the emotions everyone is feeling. Certainly no one ever expected anything like this to happen! Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost homes, businesses, belongings; I sincerely hope we'll all do what we can and that the state of Iowa can soon begin recovering from this disaster.