Floods of 2008: Will FEMA, Americans rise to challenge?
Floods of 2008: Will FEMA, Americans rise to challenge?
The human, property and financial costs from this month’s relentless flooding in Iowa and other parts of the Midwest have been shocking and overwhelming. The devastated farmlands, neighborhoods and lives require a massive, aggressive and compassionate response from the public and private sectors alike.
Indeed, federal officials call the fallout from the Floods of 2008 their biggest challenge since Hurricane Katrina. But unlike the historic hurricane of three years ago, this year’s flooding is a challenge that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials and others must successfully and rapidly rise to meet.
Storms and flooding across six states this June have killed at least 24 people, injured 150 and caused more than $1.5 billion in estimated damage in Iowa alone. That figure is guaranteed to increase as river levels climb in Missouri, Illinois and points south.
Federal officials predicted as many as 30 levees could overflow this week, leaving industrial and agricultural areas vulnerable. Flooded areas so far have ruined about 10 percent of the nation’s 2008 corn crop, which is likely to compound our already out-of-control inflationary spiral.
Positive signs from FEMA
Clearly the destruction in economic and human terms has been mammoth. That’s why it’s encouraging to see signs that the federal response to this natural disaster appears to be speedier, more efficient and more helpful to its tens of thousands of victims, a contrast to the bumbling efforts of former FEMA chief Michael “Brownie” Brown to the $81 billion Katrina catastrophe.
FEMA is responding. As of Thursday morning, FEMA and other federal agencies had distributed water for 1.1 million people, 12.8 million sandbags, 2,500 tarps and 4,000 rolls of plastic sheeting. The agency also delivered 2 million sandbags and 180,000 liters of water to Missouri in advance of expected flooding there.
Congress is responding. The U.S. House and Senate are moving with uncharacteristic alacrity to provide an additional $2.65 billion to replenish the nation’s disaster-relief fund and to provide other support,
Perhaps, most importantly, the American people are responding. The American Red Cross has taken a leading role, and millions of Americans have reached out to help.
As of Thursday in flooded areas, the Red Cross has operated 104 shelters, provided 9,644 overnight stays, served 150,513 meals and 250,250 snacks, with 87 mobile feeding units on the move. In addition, 30 trained disaster relief workers from the Mahoning Chapter are on call to travel to flooded areas.
How you can help
Those wishing to donate should make checks payable to American Red Cross (note National Disaster Relief in memo line) and mail to ARC, Mahoning Chapter, 8392 Tod Ave., Boardman 44515. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org
The good news is that the Mississippi River is beginning to recede, and flooding there this weekend may be not as severe as once thought.
But there are no certainties. That’s why we look for the continued improved response from our government and the ongoing compassionate response from the American people to lessen the misery and restore the flood-devastated regions to a semblance of normalcy.