Indiana, Illinois and Iowa Ladies

[goodgal996]

I was just watching the weather channel and they were talking about really bad flooding in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Just wanted to make sure everyone from those states are okay!

[karebear46168]

Checking in from Indiana..............it's getting bad, they are evacuating a small town not too far from us with boats and helicopters, that town had 6-11" of rain. So far in central Indiana we've had about 6 overnight. I just got back from driving around our trailer park to see the flooding and I got some good pics......there were a couple of places where I refused to drive through, I turned around, but I watched several cars & trucks plow through it and splash water about 4 or 5 feet high!!!!

It's not supposed to rain ALL day, so I'm hoping that the water will begin to recede, but it is still raining right now, a little thunder and a little lightening. My mom is without power and has been for over an hour and a half now!

[clorigroh]

I hope you girls are ok!!!!!

[karebear46168]

Well, here in Indiana it's finally stopped raining and is just sprinkleing. I have been out in the yard checking out the water and the yard is just saturated....it squishes when you walk on it. My mom finally has power again. My sister's house has water in her basement, they are working on getting it bailed out...I hope it's not too deep since they have a finished basement with carpet, a pool table and a wet bar, there is also a stereo system down there too.

[nmbrumbelow]

Spots of Iowa are pretty flooded and they are still trying to clean up from all the tornados we've been getting. We are ok but alot of our immediate family members have flooded basements, large limbs down or have been without power. I cant believe these storms, they are getting scary!

[karebear46168]

The water seems to be moving fast, this is an area of the road behind our house, I took this while it was still raining:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q38/karebear46168/House/Flooding%20June%206th%202008/032.jpg

This is the same area after it stopped raining:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q38/karebear46168/House/Flooding%20June%206th%202008/047.jpg

[nmbrumbelow]

Ya, I was hoping this hot, dry day would help, but they are forcasting more storms starting tonight for all week.

[karebear46168]

We are supposed to have scattered thundershowers the rest of the day, pretty clear tomorrow and then more storms beginning Monday....

[kobfield2007]

Well we haven't gotten much up here. I mean we're getting the rain, but nothing to cause flooding like Karen has.

Please be careful Karen!

[amuchow]

I'm in Kearney, Nebraska and we were hit with the tornados a little over a week ago. Our huge tree in the back yard was uprooted and crashed onto our house and carport which landed on our car. Now every time it rains, we get water in our basement. Our bathroom wall is cracked and falling in as well as cracks in the bedroom and kitchen walls. They just came to adjust our house this morning. This is really inconvenient as we leave in 12 days for vegas to get married. I keep telling myself that it is really a blessing because we will get the updates we wanted sooner than we would have been able to do them. Hopefully we can get the garage that we wanted too.

Area towns are flooded here as well. Many people with water in their basements and everything. The crops are suffering with many washed out. A lot of people have it worse and I hope they are okay with the storms predicted for the rest of the week starting this evening.

I've never been really scared of storms but these have been really bad and I don't think they are ever going to stop.

Hopefully everyone will be okay.

[maeberha]

it's a beautiful sunny day here in southern indiana

[karebear46168]

The weather has let up on us for a few hours now. Most of the water here by me has gone down a lot. I guess that at times like this (flooding) it's a good thing I live in a trailer!! It would take a hell of a lot of water to flood the inside of my house!

[kobfield2007]

We're getting horendous rain now. My mom told me where she's at (about 50 miles west) they had the tornado sirens go off a few times already. They'd been tracking it on the comp and it's looking nasty.

[kobfield2007]

Well there's sirens going off, but I'm not sure what town they are b/c they're too quiet to be my town. I think it's the town to the east of me. Joy..........

BUt I still have internet and satellite. ;)

[kobfield2007]

Well my father jsut called me panicking! He's in Monticello, IN (his girl-f's family has a cabin on teh beach), but anyways, he was like "Where are you?" I said at home. He yelled in the phone, "Go into the bathroom!" I was like WTF? He said a tornado about 1/2 mile wide had touched down in Crete/Steger (about 20 miles east of me) and was last spotted between Ford Hieghts and Lansing (about 10 miles from me) and is headed straight for Highland (that's me), Griffith, and Hammond. I'm watching it out the window. It's lighting and thundering really bad, but it's calm and I remember from the last tornado I'd been through it's always calm before the tornado. So once this passes I'll be back on. RIght now (according to the radar) we're in the heart/eye of the storm. I happen to catch the "cut in" on WGN.

[goodgal996]

oh wow, i hope you guys are okay chrissy!!

[kobfield2007]

I'm alive! :) I threw the cats in the bathroom and then I watched the TV until I knew I had to get cover, but as I was watching it, when the radar refreshed you can tell it made a shift straight north (right towards John). But there was a torndao spotted in Steger, IL; Crete, IL and 2 in Lansing, IL (where I went to HS). Actually they had a woman on the phone that was call from Lynwood, IL (where I lived the last time I experienced a tornado) and she said it was thunder and lighting really bad (and you could hear it). She said she saw the one funnel and you heard her start to run. Then she screamed and line went dead. :eek: They did a "plea" on the news saying if anyone knew her to please call the station to let them know she was alright. Jesus! I just talked to John and his manager said that since the worst of it was over them, they were evacuating the parking garage (where John was).

The worst part was, I'm telling the fricken A/C guy that there's a tornado headed our way, etc.. trying to get him out and he didn't get the hint. Finally he called the b!tch I spoke with from Sears earlier in the day and she told him to go home immediately. Thank you!

[kobfield2007]

Tornado Reported in South Suburbs
CHICAGO (STNG) ― A tornado has been reported Saturday night in south suburban Will County and southern Cook County.

At 6:04 p.m., a "large tornado" touched the ground just southwest of Monee and is moving northeast at 26 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado is reported to be about a half-mile wide.

Trained weather spotters reported the tornado on the ground near Park Forest about 6:35 p.m. with radar indicating the tornado would move towards Ford Heights, the weather service said.

The tornado passed through a beach on a private lake at the South Wilmington Sportsman Club, 24628 County Line Rd. in Wilmington.

"It went through the middle of the beach," said Lindell Roberts, a member of the club's board of directors. "We have a lot of trees down and power lines and stuff like that. A lot of big trees were blown down and limbs lost."

Roberts said nobody was injured and lifeguards evacuated the beach about an hour before the storms arrival. Members of the clubs were sent to various buildings on the ground.

None of the buildings were damaged, Roberts said.

"We are tracking a large tornado that is still on the ground," meteorologist Gino Izzi said at 6:20 a.m. "Most tornados are on the ground for a minute or two, but they can last up to an hour. This one has been on the ground for a while," meteorologist Gino Izzi said.

Damage reports are coming in at 6:45 from Richton Park concerning damage on Sauk Trail. Quarter-sized hail has been reported in Chicago Heights. Residents in the south suburban area are reporting power lines and trees down, funnel clouds and flooded streets. Sirens have been going off in various municipalities. No reports of injuries as of 6:55 p.m.

At 7:02 p.m., the tornado was reported two miles north of Chicago Heights on the Illnois and Indiana state border. (<--That's me!)

The tornado's path cannot be predicted with precision, but Izzi said the tornado has been moving steadily to the northeast and is expected to continue to do so.

Izzi said the storm has produced tornados that touch down then dissipate and another tornado forms behind it.

A tornado warning has been issued for Cook and Will counties and will remain in effect until 8 p.m.

The National Weather Service suggests residents take cover immediately. If a basement is not available, move to an interior room on the lowest floor and avoid windows. Mobile homes and vehicles should be abandoned for more substantial shelter.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

[karebear46168]

OMGOSH!!! I'm glad you're ok Chrissy!!!

[kobfield2007]

I found this photo on the news channel!
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/06/08/320x240/wbbm0607tornadoI55.jpg

[karebear46168]

WOW........that's an awesome pic!

[goodgal996]

wow, that's so scary! glad you're okay!

[kobfield2007]

I'm watching the news and OMG the damage is outrageous!! They're showing one town Richton Park and apartment building are split in half, roofs blown off, power lines down EVERYWHERE. They actaully had a (previously) live recording of when the tornado went through, it was scary looking. THey're nuts! LOL

Then I read on line that there was a tornado spotted like a mile from my house, but the sirens NEVER went off!! That'll be a big argument tomorrow!

[karebear46168]

I'm watching the news too and they are talking about all the flooding down here......talk about crazy!

I HATE those sirens! They should not go off unless it's a tornado warning....not a freaking thunderstorm......it makes people feel too comfortable in thinking "oh it's just a storm".....I personally don't freak out if I hear them.

[kobfield2007]

Yeah hearing the sirens don't freak me out anymore. When we lived in Lynwood, they'd go off if the wind blew the wrong way. My mom is terrified of storms. I mean I remember when we did get the tornado come through Lynwood, I watched it outside (my friend's house was severly damaged and her firend's house had teh basketball hoop, etc.. ripped right out of the concretre go through the 2nd floor bedroom window). But my mom literally was in the bathroom panicking. She had candles, the phones, flashlights, and the dog in there. My mother was shaking. I dunno....

I just realised Richton Park is right by one of my co-workers. He's the next town over, so I emailed him to make sure he was ok.

Good news. The girl that I mentioned above that screamed then the phoen cut out, they said she called back and said she's safe.

I-57 is shut down. I guess when the storm/tornado first hit, it hit so hard it flipped semi's etc.. and a propane semi was flipped and blew and was on fire. They did an overview shot of the area, it's so weird, it's all dark, except for the expressway lights!!

They said on the news that they knew this storm was going to be bad, but not this bad. It just hit.

Like I siad, the photos on the news are so scarey looking.

They're also talking about the flooding in your area Karen. There's actually a flood warning (?) from Lake County all the way to you. The map is all green. :)

[karebear46168]

Yep, the map is green for us....around here the flooding seems to be under control. lev was out working all day today, they called early this morning and he didn't get home until like 6 pm.....they were out placing "high water" signs and chesking all the streets and bridges for debris. He said he might have to go out again tomorrow. This is the first time since we've been together that he's had to wrok because of a thunderstorm. In the winter I know the phone is going to ring for him.......it is so freaking hot out there now and humid!!!

[karebear46168]

I think I hear thunder........but then I'm so used to hearing it that maybe I just think I hear it?

[kobfield2007]

THANK GOD I DIDN'T SEE THIS!! I prolly would've panicked. This was about 10 miles away!
http://images.townnews.com/nwitimes.com/content/articles/2008/06/07/updates/breaking_news/doc484b0a0d11e50993764526.jpg

[kobfield2007]

Karen, how far you from this??

FRANKLIN, Ind. | Storms dumped as much as 10 inches of rain on soggy central Indiana on Saturday, threatening dams, forcing evacuations, inundating highways and sending a scuba team to rescue residents from swamped homes.

Officials in four central Indiana counties have declared emergencies and shelters have been set up for hundreds of residents who have been forced from their homes by rising water. But no injuries or deaths have been reported.

"At this point, mercifully, we believe all Hoosiers are secure," Gov Mitch Daniels said during a news conference. "We hope that will continue."

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched two rescue helicopters to Indianapolis, where they could be sent to flooded areas as needed, said state Homeland Security Director Joe Wainscott.

A scuba team had performed swift-water rescues and helped evacuate homes in Johnson County, sheriff's dispatcher Zachary Elliott said. Dams in the county were failing in the Prince's Lakes area, threatening the town of Nineveh about 30 miles south of Indianapolis, county Commissioner Tom Kite said.

Water had reached the first floor of Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Kite said. Cars were submerged up to their windshields in the county government building parking lot, and Indiana National Guard troops rerouted traffic around the main street through Franklin.

Flooding on the White River in some areas south of Indianapolis over the next couple days could reach levels comparable to the historic flood of 1913, said National Weather Service hydrologist Al Shipe. That area was saturated with 4 to 11 inches of rain overnight and Saturday and flash flood warnings were issued for 15 counties.

"It's been a rough morning for a lot of folks," NWS meteorologist Joseph Nield said.

Franklin resident Saralee Mann, 68, had 5 feet of flood water in her backyard and 3 feet of murky water in her basement, but planned to ride the storm out.

"It'll go away as quickly as it came up," said Mann, who has lived in the home for 49 years. "It's just that it's got to quit raining before it goes down."

Near Martinsville, southwest of Indianapolis, Ben Pace watched motorboats moving through his Morgan County community rescuing neighbors.

Pace said the rain didn't seem that bad when he woke up, but he then watched water rise 6 to 8 inches in his backyard shed.

"Then I realized that it's worse than it's ever been," he said.

A rescuer came by boat to his front door to get him. He managed to grab some clothes and his dog, leaving the home that had knee-deep water in his bedroom.

Two buildings and the central mall at Franklin College were flooded and two residence halls were damaged, said Lisa Fears, a college vice president.

State police reported evacuations in the Lake Lemon area about 10 miles northeast of Bloomington. Dams near Gold Point were close to collapse, police said.

Interstate 70 was closed in Clay County in west-central Indiana, and Interstate 65 and another major route, U.S. 31, both were closed near Franklin.

Residents of evacuated Helmsburg, about 40 miles south of Indianapolis, were loaded onto buses and taken to a YMCA in Nashville, Brown County Red Cross Chairman Wayne Freeman said.

In western Indiana, water more than a foot deep flowed quickly around houses on Terre Haute's east side.

J.D. Kesler, deputy director of the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, said more than 200 people had to be rescued from their homes, vehicles and nursing homes after 6 to 9 inches of rain fell within 12 hours. U.S. 41 was the only route open into Terre Haute, and it was down to one lane by mid-afternoon.

"The ground is just saturated. When you get this much rain, it's flash flood time," Kesler said.

More than 30,000 electric customers lost power, the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission said.

Associated Press Writer Ken Kusmer in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

[karebear46168]

We are prolly about half an hour from just about all of the counties that have been declared a diaster area....they are like all around us, we have some flooding still, I'm hoping to see if there is any left tomorrow....it's all heading down south now and the rain you got is helping to push it farther that way.....

[jay052582]

I saw all of it! We were right behind the storm the whole time. We were driving on I-80 on the way back from Iowa when my mom called and told me about it. We made to Torrence Ave on 80-94 when were were stopped on the highway by emergency vehicles. As soon as I found out my family was okay I got really excited about the tornado. I am a weather geek so I find that stuff so amazing! :)

[SoonToBeWed]

Glad to see and hear that you ladies are ok and safe and sound.

I was listening to the radio today and hearing all about the storms and damage. I hope you continue to be safe.

[karebear46168]

We were under a severe thunderstorm warning earlier, but it seems to have calmed down, we got some more rain in a short time frame and some thunder and lightening.......we heard some thunder awhile ago and now nothing is going on...

[KEandJD]

eek. I'm gald you ladies are all ok. I don't think I could live somewhere that had torandoes.. I would live in fear!

[karebear46168]

I hear rain and thunder AGAIN!!! ugh.............

[SoonToBeWed]

Just wanted to check in on you ladies and see how everyone is doing today. Is everyone still safe & sound and dry?

[karebear46168]

Safe and dry for now, we had a horrible one last night and it rained this morning. We had some damage, nothing major. But we live in a mobile home and it was rocking last night in the wind.....no rain until Friday now they say for central Indy.

[nmbrumbelow]

Iowas flooding! They are iettim water go from the dam which is going to flood alot of stuff. People are sand bagging and out of running water, this is nuts. And with more rain on the way we are screwed. My gma and MIL basements are full of water. They lost alot :(

[karebear46168]

Iowas flooding! They are iettim water go from the dam which is going to flood alot of stuff. People are sand bagging and out of running water, this is nuts. And with more rain on the way we are screwed. My gma and MIL basements are full of water. They lost alot :(


Oh no......sorry!!!

[nmbrumbelow]

They let the water go last night at 10. There is alot of flooding now, they are now calling it the floods of 08, its getting worse than what we had in 93, and that was bad. They did alot of sandbagging so that helped. I think Andrew is going to help ie they start asking again. I talked to my family, I dont think theres one of them that doesnt have standing water in the basement. My gma had her new basement carpet torn out. She said it smelled terrible. Andrews dad works down at the garage for the city busses. They are spending all day pumping water out and moving the busses to the closest high schools. They have closed alot of parks, roads, and bridges so its hard to go anywhere without a detour. We had rain this morning and more on the way for tonight and the rest of the week and Im sure thats not the end.

[SoonToBeWed]

Safe and dry for now, we had a horrible one last night and it rained this morning. We had some damage, nothing major. But we live in a mobile home and it was rocking last night in the wind.....no rain until Friday now they say for central Indy.

Glad to hear you're safe and dry. I hope you continue to stay that way.


They let the water go last night at 10. There is alot of flooding now, they are now calling it the floods of 08, its getting worse than what we had in 93, and that was bad. They did alot of sandbagging so that helped. I think Andrew is going to help ie they start asking again. I talked to my family, I dont think theres one of them that doesnt have standing water in the basement. My gma had her new basement carpet torn out. She said it smelled terrible. Andrews dad works down at the garage for the city busses. They are spending all day pumping water out and moving the busses to the closest high schools. They have closed alot of parks, roads, and bridges so its hard to go anywhere without a detour. We had rain this morning and more on the way for tonight and the rest of the week and Im sure thats not the end.

I am sorry to hear that things are bad. I hope that things get better soon. I am sorry to hear that you're family has been hit hard as well. I will keep my fingers crossed that you dry out real soon.

[SoonToBeWed]

Wow Fonda I am sorry to see things are so bad.

[goodgal996]

Wow, that's some crazy flooding. Sorry to hear you're having to deal with it :(

[karebear46168]

Wow is all I can say about the flooding in Iowa!

Thanks Cathlyn....they are saying the rain is moving in for tomorrow night and Friday with some severe. They just mentioned on the news that we have had our first 2 dry days in a row this week since the beginning of May!!

[karebear46168]

Yuck, I saw some of the footage on the news.....be careful Fonda & Nicole!

[kobfield2007]

I just saw this!! OMG!! This photo actually make me want to ball!! Actually did start to cry.

http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/getty/gyi0055107207.h2.jpg
These residents, one carrying his cats, were among the thousands evacuating in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Thursday.

Levee breaks near city, thousands evacuate
Cedar Rapids also loses power; 53 of Iowa's 99 counties are disaster areas

Officials estimate 100 blocks are underwater. "We’re seeing very substantial flooding," said Craig Hanson, the city’s public works maintenance manager.

Cedar Rapids firemen have been organizing boat rescues of stranded residents, Koch said.

The new evacuations follow a 150-foot breach in an earthen levee early Thursday.

If flooding continues, Koch said, Highway 30 will likely be shut down where it intersects the Cedar River.

The Cedar and other rivers across flood-ravaged Iowa continue to rise after more rain overnight and into Thursday.

5 inches overnight
Storms brought up to 5 inches of rain across west central Iowa early Thursday — primarily in the Raccoon River basin.

The Raccoon River meets the Des Moines River in downtown Des Moines.

An army of sandbagging volunteers continued to wage a battle against the state's rising rivers. Gov. Chet Culver has declared 53 of the state's 99 counties as disaster areas. Nine rivers are at or above historic flood levels.

Meteorologist Rod Donavon of the National Weather Service said the water flowing into the Raccoon River "is a concern" as it makes its way toward Des Moines.

Hundreds of people in Cedar Rapids and small towns evacuated on Wednesday. A tornado in the western part of Iowa late Wednesday killed four Boy Scouts and injured dozens.

Officials hoped sandbags would hold back floodwaters slowly moving south and eventually into the Mighty Mississippi.

In the town of Vinton Wednesday, inmates in black-and-white striped uniforms were rescued from a jail by boat as the raging Cedar River flooded the town and forced evacuations, there and in nearby Waterloo.

Officials in Wisconsin also monitored dams and high water in Indiana burst a levee Wednesday, flooding a vast stretch of farmland. In Minnesota and North Dakota, strong winds closed a highway.

Corn prices rise
Along the Mississippi River in Missouri and Illinois, the National Weather Service predicted the worst flooding in 15 years. Outlying areas could be inundated, but most of the towns are protected by levees and many low-lying property owners were bought out after massive flooding in 1993, officials said.

This year's spring deluge led some to compare it to the disaster of 1993 when the Mississippi River and its tributaries turned parts of the nation's midsection into a gigantic lake.

Corn prices hit a record high again Thursday and the short-term outlook did not look good.

"Even if it is drier next week it won't matter now. It's too late to plant corn," said Vic Lespinasse of grainanalyst.com.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it was closing locks and dams on 200 miles of the upper portion of the vital commercial waterway on Thursday, possibly through early July. The locks must be closed to remove and store electric motors that move lock gates and control valves, the corps said.

'Major flooding' likely on Mississippi
The National Weather Service predicted crests of 10 feet above flood stage and higher over the next two weeks. Most of the towns along the Mississippi are protected by levees, but outlying areas could be flooded.

The river was 1.5 feet above flood stage Wednesday at St. Louis, on its way to 5.6 feet above.

"This is major flooding," weather service hydrologist Karl Sieczynski said of the Mississippi.

Meteorologist Bill Karins of NBC's WeatherPlus added: "We are in the middle of a historic flood event in the Upper Mississippi Valley. Most major Iowa rivers are cresting at all-time record levels and this water will soon raise the Mississippi River to its second highest levels in recorded history north of St. Louis.

"The Mississippi river predictions for Burlington, Iowa, call for the crest to be a one in 100-200 year flood, second only to the Great Flood of 1993, which was considered a 500-year flood event," he said.

"The story along the Mississippi River will be all the mid-sized and small towns without large levees," he added. "On the consumer side, thousands upon thousands of acres of farmland will be flooded for weeks with incredible crop losses."

[karebear46168]

We're supposed to get more rain and severe storms starting tonight and all day tomorrow

[nmbrumbelow]

We got hit last night and it was supposed to rain all day, its been pretty good at holding back so far. There was a tornado in western iowa that hit a boy scout camp. It killed 4 and others were injured. They didnt have any good shelter, and some boys were on a hike when it hit. It has to be the worst feeling in the world to be a parent watching that, not knowing if your kids are ok or not. We still have alot of flooding... obviously! They are not forcasting some dry days next week, so maybe we can dry out. I hope they have it right. It wasnt supposed to rain the past 2 days, and bad storms quickly popped up.

[SoonToBeWed]

Glad to hear everyone is still ok. I heard about the boys scouts yesterday. Pretty sad. That picture of the guy with the two cats in his arms walking through the water is kind of sad but sweet as well.

[nmbrumbelow]

There were to many good photos, I couldn't choose which ones to post. They are all the pictures of the flooding from the news.
http://www.kcci.com/slideshow/slideshows/16434627/detail.html
http://www.kcci.com/slideshow/slideshows/16513114/detail.html
http://www.kcci.com/slideshow/slideshows/16574601/detail.html
This is all the water that they let go out of the dam. We tried to get where we could get photos of it. But they had it all blocked off and if they caught you sneaking in they would arrest you... I figured it wasnt worth going to jail :)
http://www.kcci.com/video/16578509/index.html

[kobfield2007]

That picture of the guy with the two cats in his arms walking through the water is kind of sad but sweet as well.
Yeah. It is sad, and sweet. It still makes me wanna cry thinking about it.

[kobfield2007]

Here's a another photo of it.....
http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/COVER/080612/g-080612-cvr-cedar-rapids-12p.grid-4x2.jpg

The cats look so scared.... :(

[kirstenh]

Here's a another photo of it.....
http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/COVER/080612/g-080612-cvr-cedar-rapids-12p.grid-4x2.jpg

The cats look so scared.... :(

Partly scared, but if they're anything like my cat they're also reeeeeeeeeeally pissed off (they look wet). I'm glad he took them to safety with him, though. It actually makes me feel better to know he is taking care of his pets.

[kobfield2007]

Partly scared, but if they're anything like my cat they're also reeeeeeeeeeally pissed off (they look wet). I'm glad he took them to safety with him, though. It actually makes me feel better to know he is taking care of his pets.
LOL yeah. That too. You can see those nails digging into him. I am glad to see he's taking care of them too.

[SoonToBeWed]

Wanted to check in on all of you and make sure you are ok.

[nmbrumbelow]

Is finally a dry day in Iowa!!! YAY!!! Its so warm and sunny!!!

[SoonToBeWed]

Is finally a dry day in Iowa!!! YAY!!! Its so warm and sunny!!!

Glad to hear it. Hopefully it will stay that way for a while.

[nmbrumbelow]

Me to, however there is already to much water so downtown is flooding. They are evacuating alot.

[SoonToBeWed]

Me to, however there is already to much water so downtown is flooding. They are evacuating alot.

Any chance they will evacuate you? Keep us informed. Stay safe.

[nmbrumbelow]

So far we are ok, we live on the 3rd floor and were still a pretty good distance away from the dams and rivers. I hope they dont because I have no idea where we would go, and it would be terrible to take a toddler and a newborn to one of the shelters they have set up. I couldnt imagine trying to sleep and get them to sleep in a room full of strangers.

[SoonToBeWed]

So far we are ok, we live on the 3rd floor and were still a pretty good distance away from the dams and rivers. I hope they dont because I have no idea where we would go, and it would be terrible to take a toddler and a newborn to one of the shelters they have set up. I couldnt imagine trying to sleep and get them to sleep in a room full of strangers.

Yeah that does sound like it would be a bit scary and difficult. Good luck.

[karebear46168]

We had some rain in Indy, but not the severe storms they were predicting

[SoonToBeWed]

We had some rain in Indy, but not the severe storms they were predicting

That's good to hear (no severe storms). Hopefully it will finally dry out there.

[karebear46168]

I'm hoping it dries out here, we have some counties that are just in an awful mess!

[SoonToBeWed]

I'm hoping it dries out here, we have some counties that are just in an awful mess!

That's too bad. I hope things improve. We are expecting another round of storms here starting tomorrow through Monday.

[SoonToBeWed]

How is everyone doing? Just making sure everyone is still safe and sound and dry.

[SoonToBeWed]

Amazing pictures Fonda. That last picture, unbelievable. I feel bad for you guys. All of this reminds me of the Flood that hit NY (where my family is) the year before my wedding, my sister lost her garage. They still have not totally recovered from the flood, there are a lot of businesses that are gone now and some that still trying to recover as well as homes etc.

I hope it doesn't take that long for you guys to recover.

[karebear46168]

Stay safe Fonda....those pics are amazing and scary!

[SoonToBeWed]

I hope everyone is safe and sound and dry.

[rhiannon0320]

I have a family friend that lives on the outskirts of Cedar Rapids and they told my dad that downtown Cedar Rapids is all underwater; nothing left. They are okay, but the city is ruined.

[karebear46168]

We had another small thunderstorm here tonight (Sunday).....

[SoonToBeWed]

I hope you ladies continue to stay safe and dry. I feel so bad for all those people affected by this weather. I just hope that all this horrible subsides soon and they can finally begin the recovery.

[SoonToBeWed]

How is everyone doing today?

[nmbrumbelow]

We are doing better here, towns are still flooded, but the water is starting to go down. We have a dry week until Friday (I think) hopefully the weather man got it right so this water will go down. Its going to cost billions to repair everything. Lots of farmers lost their crops to.

[SoonToBeWed]

We are doing better here, towns are still flooded, but the water is starting to go down. We have a dry week until Friday (I think) hopefully the weather man got it right so this water will go down. Its going to cost billions to repair everything. Lots of farmers lost their crops to.

Glad to hear that the water is receeding. Sorry to hear that the farmers lost their crops.

[adrumm]

I was finally getting to look through the pictures today. I am glad to hear that all you girls are staying safe and the waters are starting to go down!

[SoonToBeWed]

How is everyone doing in Iowa & Illinois? Is everyone still safe, dry and sound?

[nmbrumbelow]

We have rain on the way now :( Flood waters are going down for now. We went to our favorite park, the ledges in boone yesterday. The park is beautiful, its down in a canyon with pretty cliffs and a little creek that runs the whole park with spots where a few inches of water runs over the road. The road down there was of course closed so we walked. We soon learned why the road was closed. The current over the roads were stronger than normal, so it would of been to dangerous to drive in with the kids playing in the creek like they normally do. We walked on a little ways and found out that over half of the park was underwater. It had to be very deep because the road curves around going downhill and where we were at, girls were swimming in the water and it was atleast 4 feet deep there. Where the water had gone down, the roads were covered in about 6 inches of compacted, hardened dirt and sand. It was so sad to see, its our favorite park with great hiking trails and the whole place is just so beautiful and now its completely a mess. I tried to get photos but my stupid batteries died. I dont know if I can find any online or not, I will try but all this damage is so sad.

[SoonToBeWed]

We have rain on the way now :( Flood waters are going down for now. We went to our favorite park, the ledges in boone yesterday. The park is beautiful, its down in a canyon with pretty cliffs and a little creek that runs the whole park with spots where a few inches of water runs over the road. The road down there was of course closed so we walked. We soon learned why the road was closed. The current over the roads were stronger than normal, so it would of been to dangerous to drive in with the kids playing in the creek like they normally do. We walked on a little ways and found out that over half of the park was underwater. It had to be very deep because the road curves around going downhill and where we were at, girls were swimming in the water and it was atleast 4 feet deep there. Where the water had gone down, the roads were covered in about 6 inches of compacted, hardened dirt and sand. It was so sad to see, its our favorite park with great hiking trails and the whole place is just so beautiful and now its completely a mess. I tried to get photos but my stupid batteries died. I dont know if I can find any online or not, I will try but all this damage is so sad.

Well I am glad to hear that the water is going down. However sad to hear about your favorite park. Let's hope that you don't get that much rain. We would rather see you dry out.

[SoonToBeWed]

Just checking up on everyone, to make sure your still safe.

[nmbrumbelow]

We're getting there! It's still raining now and then but not to bad. Now the problem is cleaning up the damage and mess.

[SoonToBeWed]

Glad to hear things are getting better.

[SoonToBeWed]

Fonda how are things in Iowa? Are you drying out yet?

[allisonw1400]

Wow, I just saw the pictures Fonda...that is just horrifying. Glad to know its gotten a little better for you!

[Christina0902]

Here are a few more flood pictures.......

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/WGAFlood081227.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/WGAFlood081202.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/WGAFlood081185.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/Picture20002-49.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/IMG_5218.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/Flood20of20200820048.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/DSCN9780.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/DSC06439.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/DSC06370-2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/100_1303-2.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/sonic3-1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/pita20pit.jpg

A highway washed away...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/flood20000820022.jpg

A sign above a business

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/0614081213.jpg

Hail from another storm today..

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/angelic55/backporchhailamana.jpg

Its madness

OMG What a mess!!!:eek:

[karebear46168]

We are under it again right now! Severe thnuderstorm warnings, flash flood, tornado........it came up quick too!

[SoonToBeWed]

We are under it again right now! Severe thnuderstorm warnings, flash flood, tornado........it came up quick too!

That's not good. I hope it doesn't get too bad. Hopefully you will dry out.

[karebear46168]

I don't know about you girls, but I'm tired of the storms....

[SoonToBeWed]

I don't blame you for being tired of the storms.

I am getting tired of T-Storms as well. We are going to continue to have them here every day through the weekend.

[kobfield2007]

I got this in an email, and sadly it's true. (This isn't meant to start an argument, etc...)

Is it just me? ....

... As you watch the flooding in the Midwest , have you noticed that there
are no farmers running around with stolen plasma TVs or holding stolen
liquor over their heads. There's no looting or yelling "Where's Bush?",
"Where's FEMA?, Where's my check?", or "Why isn't the Gov't out here
saving me and my farm?"

Likewise, I've also noticed there are no reports of any other country coming
to help or sending aid.

Shocking contrast isn't it???!!!!

[rhiannon0320]

One thing I have noticed too is the number of "let's save Iowa" funds set up but WI, IL, IN and other states that have been hit hard are being passed off like it happens every year and they should have been prepared for it. Not that people in Iowa don't need help...I just think that people should share.

[SoonToBeWed]

I got this in an email, and sadly it's true. (This isn't meant to start an argument, etc...)

Is it just me? ....

... As you watch the flooding in the Midwest , have you noticed that there
are no farmers running around with stolen plasma TVs or holding stolen
liquor over their heads. There's no looting or yelling "Where's Bush?",
"Where's FEMA?, Where's my check?", or "Why isn't the Gov't out here
saving me and my farm?"

Likewise, I've also noticed there are no reports of any other country coming
to help or sending aid.

Shocking contrast isn't it???!!!!

I have to agree with you there. It was like in 2006 when upstate NY where my family is got hit by floods, the only coverage they got on the whole flooding was a 30 second clip on CNN. However they were not screaming and hollering. They were fairly lucky to get some help from the government.

[SoonToBeWed]

One thing I have noticed too is the number of "let's save Iowa" funds set up but WI, IL, IN and other states that have been hit hard are being passed off like it happens every year and they should have been prepared for it. Not that people in Iowa don't need help...I just think that people should share.

You know the sad thing, I think I might have heard once or twice about a Save Iowa and help those that have been hit by the floods once or twice. Normally in this area they will publicize fundraising to help others like this as much as possible, however we have barely heard anything. I find this odd.

[karebear46168]

Sorry I agree about the Iowa thing, I mean Indiana and IL had a lot of damage too and maybe it was not as bad as Iowa, but poeple in IN & IL are just as screwed and lost everything too.

[karebear46168]

There is a news story on about a 4 year old who is spending his birthday selling lemonaide to help his great grandma who lost everything in the flooding!! How sweet. He originally wanted to sell popcorn, but the family didn't have a popper, but they had lemons, ice, sugar and water.........4 years old people and there are adults who do nothing....go figure

[rhiannon0320]

Sorry I agree about the Iowa thing, I mean Indiana and IL had a lot of damage too and maybe it was not as bad as Iowa, but poeple in IN & IL are just as screwed and lost everything too.

I hear ya. The clip they keep showing around here when they talk about the Iowa flooding is actually a clip from WI of a guys house splitting in half and falling into a man made lake that was draining because the dam holding it broke. Ten feet or two, it still makes a house unstable and damages a lot of possessions. I just pry for everybody out there that Mother Nature decides to take a break from that area.

[SoonToBeWed]

There is a news story on about a 4 year old who is spending his birthday selling lemonaide to help his great grandma who lost everything in the flooding!! How sweet. He originally wanted to sell popcorn, but the family didn't have a popper, but they had lemons, ice, sugar and water.........4 years old people and there are adults who do nothing....go figure

Very sweet. As I say a lot, the adults of the world could learn a lot from the kids of the world.

[karebear46168]

It's getting ready to storm here in Indy........it rained like a %&#$^ this morning! I had to take the car to Toyota and you couldn't see the road or anything else either! then it was very hot and humid the rest of the day........it's almost a quarter to 8 and the thunder is rolling in

[karebear46168]

8:07 and it's raining................

[karebear46168]

Looking out my big picture window... 8:10 started pouring, 8:20 dry as a drum! :p

Still raining here........not very hard, no thunder or lightning right now..........time: 8:30 pm

[SoonToBeWed]

Let's hope you dry out and the rain stops. You can send it our way. It is so hot here. The only good thing about not getting any rain recently is the bamboo is under control. LOL

[karebear46168]

Well, it's still hot here....the rain has not cooled it off

[SoonToBeWed]

We got quite a bit of rain here last night. A couple of thunderstorms rolled through. As far as I know it is still supposed to be hot here.

I hope you don't get any more rain. You really need to dry out.

[karebear46168]

Up north (where Chrissy & Denisa are) is supposed to get some rain/storms tomorrow

But clear in mine & Ashley's areas for a few days!

[kobfield2007]

GRIFFITH | Town officials began the process Tuesday of applying for county disaster assistance after a line of furious thunderstorms ripped through the region Monday night, killing power to many thousands of homes and businesses, toppling trees, damaging buildings and stopping events at the Lake County Fairgrounds and The Steel Yard.

See additional photos.

Town officials declared Griffith a disaster area Monday night, said Town Council President Rick Ryfa, who said Lake County received the town's application for disaster assistance.

The town began voluntary evacuations of the Mansard's Apartments shortly after midnight, and as much of Griffith remained dark, officials opened Franklin School as a shelter where the Red Cross has cots and water available.

Ryfa said the agency was in the process of bringing in food.

"(The damage) is so widespread," Ryfa said. "It looks like a war zone."

The storms aimed exceptional abuse at Griffith. Winds ripped roofs and facades from homes, snapped power lines and smashed windows. Scott Revis' house in Griffith was punished. A tree crushed his car in the driveway, his gazebo was destroyed, his home's siding was stripped, and his house's back corner was missing.

"Mother Nature, you can't do nothing about it," he said.

Revis was doing dishes when he heard a "boom" sound, and he headed for the garage.

"I just can't believe this happened," he said. "This is just crazy."

Al Mochol, who lives on the corner of Lafayette and 37th avenues, was home with his wife, dog and cat when the storm hit. It ripped off the roof, destroyed at least two bedrooms and the garage, and uprooted his fence.

When the storm peaked, the couple were watching a movie on a new high-definition television.

"Then, all of a sudden, I lost that, too," he said.

Everybody got out safely, but as of 10 p.m., their cat, Miko, was still missing. And Mochol had some things in his yard that didn't belong to him.

"Somebody's picnic table is in my garden," he said.

Residents of the area of 37th Avenue and Broad Street wandered with flashlights through the neighborhood, examining the damage. Many said they never heard any sirens.

Chunks of siding, roof shingles and insulation littered yards. Fences were blown to the ground. The smell of natural gas filled the streets.

Police evacuated a nearby shopping center of gapers, shouting through a megaphone that they had no business there and needed to leave. The center, at Cline Avenue and Ridge Road, sustained heavy damage. Facades and pieces of roof were blown off.

Throughout Griffith, street lights and traffic lights were out. Four-way stop signs were propped in the middle of intersections to manage motorists through.

Jack Leyba, of Rensselaer Avenue, said he was fortunate that a tree hit his roof; it could've been worse.

"I was just watching TV and all of a sudden, the power went out, and it went boom! boom!" he said.

Several residents reported hearing "boom" sounds at the height of the storm.

Tim Halbach, a National Weather Service meteorologist said officials planned to conduct storm surveys today, and Griffith would be one focus.

Monday's storms had killed power to about 33,000 NIPSCO customers as of 9:30 p.m., said spokesman Larry Graham. About 200,000 homes and businesses were without power in Illinois at 9:30 p.m., said ComEd spokesman Joe Trost. Lansing accounted for about 10,000 of those customers, he said.

The storm stomped through Munster and Hammond, dropping trees on houses near Van Buren Avenue and 30th Street in Munster.

"It's the ugliest sight I have ever seen," said David Jordan Allen, of Munster.

Lake County Fair staffers herded fairgoers into shelters, then ended the fair early about 9:30 p.m., said Arlene Marcinek, secretary of the Lake County Agricultural Society.

"It was definitely scary for a while, but we didn't lose our electricity," Marcinek said.

Police and fire crews from Chicago's south suburbs to Porter County scrambled from scene to scene after the evening's stifling humidity melted into high winds, lightning and hail about 8 p.m. Municipal facilities across the region lost power, complicating efforts to dispatch emergency crews to damaged homes, reported fires, and downed trees and power lines.

National Weather Service meteorologists did not immediately confirm any tornado touchdowns. But trained spotters reported high-rotation winds in DeKalb and Kane counties in northeastern Illinois. Meteorologist Brad Churchill said 60-mph to 80-mph winds were expected.

-- Times Staff Writers Dan Hinkel and Vanessa Renderman contributed to this report.

[jenzcrazy8]

Oh my gosh is my backyard flooded! It's now "Lake Stick" :) I've got pictures that I'll post later today, but our bridge that goes over our retention stream moved probably 5 feet b/c there is SO much water!

[kobfield2007]

This is about 1/2 mile from my house.....
http://media1.post-trib.com/multimedia/storm805.jpg_20080805_08_58_35_11-281-400.imageContent
Highland resident Matt Carlassaire, 16, looks over damage to his home at 3008 Grand Blvd. after severe thunderstorms blew the garage roof into the driveway Monday. Nearby residents were also left without power after the storm.

[jenzcrazy8]

Wow! I'm thankful we didn't get it that bad. We just have soggy grass.

[kobfield2007]

Oh my gosh is my backyard flooded! It's now "Lake Stick" :) I've got pictures that I'll post later today, but our bridge that goes over our retention stream moved probably 5 feet b/c there is SO much water!
I heard that your area, esp. jsut east of downtown Crown Point was really bad.

[kobfield2007]

Wow! I'm thankful we didn't get it that bad. We just have soggy grass.
I know. We just have garbage everywhere b/c today is garbage day. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I saw that we have a lil leak in our patio door. :eek: But as Denisa and I said in her journal, that Kmart on Ridge and the Jedi restaurant right there and most of the center is trashed.

[kobfield2007]

How is Jessica's area?? I know she's in Griffith right?

[jenzcrazy8]

I heard that your area, esp. jsut east of downtown Crown Point was really bad.

Than we must be lucky! We're just northwest of the square so I'm guessing we lucked out.

[jenzcrazy8]

I know. We just have garbage everywhere b/c today is garbage day. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I saw that we have a lil leak in our patio door. :eek: But as Denisa and I said in her journal, that Kmart on Ridge and the Jedi restaurant right there and most of the center is trashed.

Oh my gosh! That is crazy!! Hopefully everyone gets relief soon:eek:

[jenzcrazy8]

How is Jessica's area?? I know she's in Griffith right?

I haven't heard from her yet this morning, but hopefully they're okay!

[kobfield2007]

http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith12.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith11.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith10.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith9.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith8_1.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith7.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith2.jpg
The Griffith Park Plaza strip mall, at 202 W. Ridge Rd. in Griffith, Ind., was demolished by a suspected tornado.

[jenzcrazy8]

How is Jessica's area?? I know she's in Griffith right?

I talked to Jess and she said they're okay, but were still w/o power this morning (of course work wasn't;))

[kobfield2007]

I talked to Jess and she said they're okay, but were still w/o power this morning (of course work wasn't;))
That's good to know... I'm glad they're ok.

[Denisa]

http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith12.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith11.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith10.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith9.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith8_1.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith7.jpg
http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/27/2008/08/05/370x278/griffith2.jpg
The Griffith Park Plaza strip mall, at 202 W. Ridge Rd. in Griffith, Ind., was demolished by a suspected tornado.
holy cr@p!! That looks alot worse than what it looked like on the news this morning. We ate at that chinese buffet not that long ago!

[kobfield2007]

holy cr@p!! That looks alot worse than what it looked like on the news this morning. We ate at that chinese buffet not that long ago!
Don't think you'll be eating there anytime soon! ;)

[Denisa]

Don't think you'll be eating there anytime soon! ;)
that's ok, it sucked anyway, lol :p