Seems some people are getting mighty brave out there with these floods! I wouldn't be staying waiting for the water to rise any more than it has already. I'd have hit the high road long ago!

Cindy..Ga.

Gary,

Thank you for the many interviews and reports that you have done on the floods and the victims. No one could have done a better job covering this terrible disaster. You have been able to keep the focus on where it belongs, on the struggles of these people and their perseverance. I hope that tonight you will show us the home of this man you spoke about in your blog today.

Please give us an update on some of the people that you interviewed; I am sure that many of the viewers would be interested in knowing what happened to them.

Keep up the great work; it is greatly appreciated!

Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

God-willing, the water stops before it spills over.

there are several Emails floating around right now about the spirit of Iowans, and altho I can't claim credit, I must agree with the sentiment of this one, as an IOWAN-

Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?
Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?
Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?
Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

Response–

Why? Because Iowans are resilient. Because Iowans will not wallow in self-pity nor embrace victimhood. Because Iowans will roll up their sleeves and get to the heart-wrenching and back-breaking work of digging out and moving forward. Because Iowans are not looking for someone else to solve their problems. Because although Iowans may be amused, bemused, and irritated by the goings-on in Hollywood and Washington, they recognize that neither is a real place inhabited by real people doing real work–Iowa is all three. Because Iowa is bordered by the east coast and by the west coast–the east coast of the Missouri River and on the west coast of the Mississippi–making it an entertainment and political backwater to those in Hollywood and Washington. Oh, Iowans will gratefully accept some dollars from here and some dollars from there, but they will not wait for those token donations to move on with their lives. Because although Iowans may argue passionately among themselves about the Hawkeyes and Cyclones and Panthers and Bulldogs–in times of tragedy, trouble, devastation, and destruction every Iowan readily stretches forth his hands to assist and support his neighbors.

'Is this Heaven? No this is Iowa.'

Hi GAry,
The pic didn't come through on the blog. Well, I suppose we have seen enough anyway. Tis so depressing.
I want to say, "THANK YOU' for you great coverage of the flood. It is really inspiring to see someone who is moved by the people. I am talking about YOU!
I too wish my children could have helped.
Again, thank you. Your coverage is greatly appreciated!

If his levee around his house holds maybe the Army Corp of Engineers ought to take lessons from him. I do hope it holds for him and that the waters start going down soon.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

These floods are just another reason you can't trust the Corp of Engineer. New Orleans founds out the hard way.

What's so strange about going fishing when your house is surrounded by water...

I did that once. I actually caught something.

It was too small to cook. I threw it back.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I must say I admire the "flying buttress" style reinforcement work that guy did on his levee with the plywood and two by fours (for you architecture fans out there, this is the type of reinforcement that held medieval cathedral walls up and kept them from collapsing).

Nice job. Stay dry.

Did you catch any fish Gary?