Des Moines Flooding

[Jean Armour Polly, MLS <jpolly@nysernet.ORG>]

Dear Dave- this is from a public librarian in Des Moines, IA. He posts only
to the PUBLIB listserv, which I co-moderate. Please consider sending this
on to Interesting People and environs. Thanks-
Best, JP


>Date: Sat, 17 Jul 93 19:27:20 -0400
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>Subject: Des Moines Flooding
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>X-Comment: Public Library Discussion Group.
>
>Sender: Ray Vignovich <RV5271S@ACAD.DRAKE.EDU>
> 
>Again I apologize for any redundancy with the media.  I am
>posting my reports only to PUBLIB, because I am having 
>enough trouble trying to get through to the INTERNET that
>posting to additional lists seems futile.  I lost my connection 
>last time just after I sent my report.
> 
>Yesterday President Clinton came to town.  As a relatively
>unimportant state compared to New York, California, Texas,
>etc. we only see the Chief executive during the Iowa caucauses,
>and maybe not even then.  So it was wonderful to have him here
>for six hours, and all cynicism aside, his presence made a
>huge difference.  The media was here too, by coincidence, and 
>Dan Rather, et al had quite a bit to say about us. 
> 
>The national attention on the Midwestern flooding is encouraging,
>but I think the biggest concern I have is for all those 
>communities downstream of Iowa.  This is no ordinary flood.
>This is considered a "500 Year Flood", meaning it is expected
>to happen only once in every 500 years.  This is a levee buster...,
>a home wrecker..., a heart breaker....  Don't put all your faith in
>any flood control device.  HEAD FOR HIGH GROUND. 
> 
>I am most interested in two things right now:
> 
>Information
>        If you know of any book, pamphlet, video, etc. that was 
>        invaluable in a comparable emergency situation, please
>        let me know.  Many of these people are rebuilding their lives.
>        Please be explicit, and please understand that we don't have any
>        spare time right now.  I don't need vague suggestions.
>        I appreciate expressions of concern or support, but save
>        them for later.
> 
>Expertise
>        If you have experience working with disasters of any kind
>        that could be of help to us, please get that information
>        to me or someone here in Iowa who can utilize it.  Tell
>        us what worked, and what didn't.  How did you handle the 
>        human element?  In particular, experiences with FEMA or its
>        predecessors would be valuable.  (Federal Emergency 
>        Management Administration)
> 
>....................................................................
> 
>The situation in the Des Moines area is improving steadily.
>There is now an adequate supply of drinking water available
>from some 30 sites in the Des Moines Metro area, but about
>250,000 people have no running water for bathing or toilet
>purposes.  The lowly Kybo, that solitary sanitary fixture
>associated with construction sites and rock concerts, has
>been elevated to a much more lofty position.
> 
>I hesitate to inject too much humor into our situation, 
>because we are still subject to the whims of nature, but 
>the rivers are receding and if we receive no more heavy 
>rains we will survive.  The levees have been repaired and
>fortified so that they are in many cases stronger than
>they were last weekend.  The water treatment facility in
>West Des Moines is now about as secure as humanly possible.
>And the Town of Altoona (population probably a couple
>thousand) is doing an incredible job of supplying drinking
>water to the area.
> 
>The water treatment facility in Des Moines has been regained
>by dropping sandbags from helicopters to form a perimeter
>that was then pumped out.  That sounds a lot simpler than
>it actually is.  Thousands and thousands of volunteers have
>been working around the clock to load enough sandbags.  Huge 
>chinook choppers are flying overhead carrying all kinds of 
>equipment and mammoth military aircraft (Army? Air Force?) 
>are flying in and out of the Des Moines airport constantly.
> 
>Those of us who live in the flight path have developed the 
>habit of listening to every distant rumbling to determine
>if it's caused by aircraft or thunder.  We welcome the aircraft
>but we fear the arrival of more thunderstorms.  On Tuesday
>morning we had a very intense rain that fortunately didn't
>last long enough to do us any damage.  It is very difficult
>to be helpless to the elements.  
> 
>The amount of anxiety present is incredible.  This is like
>living in a war zone.  So much human effort has been expended
>in conquering the elements that a lot of people are unable
>to accept the fact that we are in a situation that we cannot
>fully control.
> 
>The most remarkable aspect of this catastrophe is the determination
>of the community to provide help and assistance without any
>thought of thanks or financial reward.  People have been moved
>to tears by the degree of volunteerism and self sacrifice exhibited
>by everyone.  Very little looting has occured, and all local 
>governments have said that anyone that is caught looting will 
>be punished as severly as possible.
> 
>The situation for public libraries in Iowa is uncertain.  I am
>working with the State Library to carryout some kind of assessment.
>I heard that the library in Eddyville, Iowa had to evacuate, but
>that is an unconfirmed report.  I will try to provide more 
>information as I learn what's happening.
> 
>The main facility of the Public Library of Des Moines has been 
>without electricity since the flood, and their automated system
>has also been down.  I don't think their system was damaged.
>They were able to successfully move the 65,000 items stored
>in the lower level to a safe area.  This is a major feat because 
>the main branch of the DMPL is probably the most intensely compacted
>library collection I have ever seen.  (These people probably don't
>own a single bookend.)  And the facility is from the 19th century
>with an old elevator and narrow stairways.  I heard that they
>had a "book brigade" with the help of a lot of volunteers. 
>All this was done in confined quarters next to a raging river 
>being held back by a leaking levee!  I hope to someday hear the 
>details from someone who was there.
> 
>Right now, DMPL branches are open 10 to 6 with no ability to check out
>materials and with no online catalog access.  Also, no water, no
>restrooms.  Other Public Libraries in the metro area are providing
>normal service.  The Urbandale Public Library has their very own
>Kybo, and fresh water delivered by the City daily.
> 
>Ray Vignovich
>West Des Moines Public Library
>1105 Grand
>West Des Moines, IA 50265
>515-223-3228
>
>