Cedar Rapids Will Survive Flooding

As we wait for the Cedar River to crest on Tuesday morning in Cedar Rapids, I’m guessing most of you are thinking what I’m thinking. Why did this have to happen again? What did we do to deserve this? Is this a test from the heavens?

What I am trying to say is that, this just isn't fair. It's not fair to the people who have to evacuate their homes…again. It's not fair to the business owners that will have to rebuild…again. It's not fair to the City Leaders, and Public Safety professionals…again. Our public servants will have to work around the clock to help save our city. It’s ONLY been eight years, but it feels just like yesterday.

In short, this sucks. But, all we can do is prepare. And we’ve been preparing for the worst the last three days. It's been a lot of hard work for so many people, including volunteers, who have been filling and slinging so many sandbags. It wasn't easy and people are exhausted.

The Hawkeye Football team had a game Saturday. If I had to guess, the ratings here in Iowa were an all-time low. You see, people didn't have time to watch football, because they were too busy helping their brothers and sisters in CR, Palo, Vinton and Indy. I didn’t see many Facebook, Twitter or Instagram posts or hear talk about the game. Instead, I saw pictures of people filling sandbags, feeding volunteers and helping protect our communities in any way they could.

That’s why I’m proud to live here in Cedar Rapids, and the surrounding cities have some serious class. We’ve been working to prepare for the flood and have been busy caring about out fellow citizens, businesses and our communities, and we saw this all weekend long.

We’re going to get through this, I promise. WE WILL SURVIVE. And when it’s all over, we’ll be stronger. We proved that in 2008. Hats off to all the volunteers throughout the flood zone this weekend! You put in countless hours of work to help those in need. You guys are the best, and it’s a pleasure to be your neighbor.