Time and time again, I am amazed by what people can do together. There are angels that show up in the most terrible of times. Truly, no man is an island…we all need each other.

It is inspiring to see how people will work together and help each other in a situation like this. It would be great if we could all learn to work together like that every day – we'd get a lot of problems solved and regain a sense of community again. Lillibeth is right -no man is an island – but anymore we sure act like we are.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

Why doesn't the American government get some advise from the Dutch. They have mastered dealing with water. One third of their country is below sea level. Don't you think the Dutch know by now how to deal with the danger of water?

I must agree with Harry de Ruiter (not only because I'm dutch).
We need to stop fighting mother nature. In the "old world" we've learned our lessons a long time ago. Sure we still make minor misstakes sometimes, but come on, trying to hold back the Mississippi river!

The engineers show in the program earlier are right. Give the river space to expand when a high volume of water needs to be handled. Build gates into some levees and allow the land behind these levees to be flooded whenever the river needs this space. Just use this land for agriculture or leave it unused...

Gert-Jan,
Deventer The Netherlands (Currently in Los Angeles California)

Mother Nature always wins in the end (so if you can’t beat them...join them)!
Why don’t we work with Mother Nature and build our homes and business outside these flood hazard areas. Let's utilized the floodplain for what Mother Nature has designed them for (conveyance of flood water). Furthermore, let's limit our use of the flood hazard areas to agriculture, recreation, transportation, and commerce.

This and other disasters is why we need bottled water. I find it crazy that it is o.k. if plastic is used for coke, beer gator-aid and other things, but the water, which is the most important is being picked on. I myself have been through a hurricane in the Florida Keys, it was the big jugs of Deer Park Spring water that saved us. When the power and water does not work and no help can get to you you realize water is the first thing you need. By the way not all bottled water is tap water-most water is SPRING water. If Tap was so good take a glass full out of your toilet it's all the same from the municipale supply. Yes we hope our supplies are safe but it travels through many pipes to get to your home not to mention old infrastructer puts us at risk at well. The best use for water is drinking-I want mine from a clean sealed bottle or glass bottle if it helps but do not deny people the choice.

Humans cannot control nature but we can pay attention to the patterns of the rivers, know where they will flood and be warned! Years like this the reach is much more extensive and we have to step up and help. We've learned the government won't do it. We have to help each other!

The truest form of humanity comes in the forefront when people are hurting and coping as one whole community . Why does it allways take natural disasters and catrophes to bring poeple together,even perfect strangers who volunteer to help make sandbags and do whatever they can to help.This what happens when everyone cares!