“This is our version of Katrina,” Johnson County Emergency Management spokesman Mike Sullivan said of Iowa City. “This is the worst flooding we’ve ever seen.” At least three deaths in Iowa have been attributed to the storms and subsequent flooding, and 12 more have died in two recent tornadoes. The storms have prompted the governor to issue disaster proclamations for 83 of the state’s 99 counties.
Posted by: Jim | June 14, 2008
The Disaster In Iowa Is Getting Worse
Posted in current events, news
Having lived in New Orleans for nine years pre-Katrina, having worked at Tulane Univ. and with FEMA on Hurricane Planning, and now living in Cedar Rapids Iowa where I am a Presbyterian minister, while the affect of the storms here in Iowa are certainly tragic and will take significant time and resources to recover from I absolutely object to anyone who dare to compare what has happened here with Katrina. There is simply no point of comparison.
By: jbonewa on June 14, 2008
at 10:24 pm
I’m sorry that you imagine that the suffering of the people of New Orleans and along the Gulf coast is somehow worse than the suffering of the people of Iowa. For those folk, in their own words, ‘this is OUR Katrina’ simply meaning ‘this is a horrific devastation that will take a very long time to get over.’
It’s funny how we guard with pride even our disasters though. “You don’t know how I feel…” is often heard from people in distress, but you know what? LOTS of people know exactly ‘how you feel’ and to assume that your pain is greater is nothing less than thinly disguised hubris and arrogance.
By: Jim on June 15, 2008
at 8:07 am