Floods of Historic Proportions

We're in the midst of a huge flood in Northern Iowa.

There was water lapping at the side of the road in several spots as we drove from the town where my husband's church is to the town where the Blue Belle Inn is. There were places where the debris over the road indicated water had already crossed the road. There was a culvert washed out, sticking straight up into the air. The road sagged under as as we cautiously drove over the spot. Mark is not sure he will be able to get across the Cedar River, or the Winnebago River to get back to Thompson today.

St. Ansgar had 8 inches of rain in just over 24 hours. Just southeast of Thompson, a tornado touched down. The fields and ditches were littered with debris as we drove east... insulation, sheets of metal, boards, shingles, unidentified bits and pieces of people's lives.

Many tornadoes hovered over our area Saturday afternoon and evening. Too many to keep track of, one neighbor said.

In Mason City (ironically, River City from the Music Man), a town of about 35,000, the Winnebago River rose so fast and high that the city's sewer treatment plant had to be shut down. The water is not safe to drink or use. Many people have been evacuated, businesses flooded, restaurants shut down. Our drinking water supply is safe, but our town is asking that we not flush toilets or take showers. I hope the danger has passed by today, or I will have to shut down the B&B and restaurant. Which may be a mute point if the roads in and out of town are under water.

Millions of acres of crops are under water. The corn and soybeans looked so green and healthy just two days ago -- now there are lakes and rivers of rushing water were there should be fields. It is so sad. So much loss.

We took a few photos as we drove. It was pouring so hard for most of the trip that we could barely see out the windows. When we crossed the rivers, I was too frightened to slow down. What looks like a river in the photo is actually a small stream and a farmer's field.

Please be in prayer for the people who have lost their homes and possessions. Many have been evacuated. The Winnebago River in Mason City is 3 feet higher than it ever has been in recorded history. They don't know how high the Cedar River is in Charles City because the flood recording station flooded and was washed away. You can see more photos at www.KIMT.com.