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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> From: publll (Publib Poster)
> To: Multiple recipients of list <publib () nysernet ORG>
> 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