Evacuating Des Moines Downtown Now -

[jds6958]

With a City population approaching 200,000 and a metro population of nearly 500,000

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080613/ap_on_re_us/midwest_flooding

DES MOINES, Iowa - Officials on Friday issued a voluntary evacuation order for much of downtown Des Moines and other areas bordering the Des Moines River.



Officials recommended that downtown residents and businesses evacuate parts of downtown on either side of the river by 6 p.m. Friday. Included are all areas in Des Moines' 500-year floodplain.

[jds6958]

Voluntary, and river crests a 8pm today it seems? How strong is the levy risk here...anyone?

[tml1432]

wonder if it will be as big of a fiasco as the Katrina evacuation...

[jds6958]

wonder if it will be as big of a fiasco as the Katrina evacuation...

It would be hard to match that one...even in worst case scenerio here I believe...

[watching]

I live in Des Moines and right now most of downtown is closed off, the water is so high over here, thankfully where we live it isn't bad yet..It is just so unreal..

[gratefulberean]

I live in Des Moines and right now most of downtown is closed off, the water is so high over here, thankfully where we live it isn't bad yet..It is just so unreal..

WOW! I couldn't imagine!

[MidwestMama]

I'm in the area too. Lots of evacuations, and no, it will NOT be as bad as Katrina. For one thing, it's bits and pieces at a time. Our downtown is not as heavily populated as some major cities, and there are lots of areas that are far from the rivers. For another, the police, national guard, etc. seem to be completely on top of it. The national guard, over the last couple days, has built and reinforced over 2 1/2 miles of levies!! (Which was even better news since with so many area troops overseas, I wasn't sure we had much national guard left in our area!!)

Now, they've been having press conferences tonight, and all the above facts are not stopping the news media from trying to find someone to blame. Um, the weather, maybe?? :doh The mayor is explaining that yes, it's a pain to evacuate, but we value the lives of our citizens and make the decisions as such. And they're still ripping apart those in charge.

Iowans are a pretty hardy bunch... we have to be to swing from the winter of the century to the floods of the century, LOL!! Don't get me wrong, it's a serious situation and just surreal. But people are doing everything they can.

[jadeeyes]

My son's girlfriend is somewhere in Iowa. I don't remember where it is in Iowa that she has some relatives that she's visiting. My son will be home this weekend for Father's Day and to play ina softball tournament. I'll have to find out where Shay is and how close she is to all the flooding. Still praying for y'all.

[tigger]

Has anyone heard from Mr Mannn? He's in that area too. Please check in Mr. Mannn. Keeping you and all of Iowa in prayer. :pray

[stonewallfan]

Has anyone heard from Mr Mannn? He's in that area too. Please check in Mr. Mannn. Keeping you and all of Iowa in prayer. :pray

:pray