[Cialug] Fwd: Des Moines Flooding

[Matthew Nuzum]

Just got this in the email from my church. Maybe they're being
alarmist, but my basement's already had 1/4" of water in it in the
last 7 days and if we do get another 6" some of it will for sure be in
my house. I'm taking precautions.

-- 
Matthew Nuzum
newz2000 on freenode


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chris Eller <celler at gracehome.com>
Date: Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Subject: Prayer Request: Des Moines Flooding
To: newz at bearfruit.org


Prayer Request:
Des Moines Flooding Situation
  June 10, 2008

Dear Matthew,

This afternoon Central Iowa received some ominous news from our city
leaders. Starting this evening, Saylorville Dam will increase its
outflow from 27,000 CFS to more than 42,000 CFS. Already, the Des
Moines River is within a few feet of downtown bridges, and many of
these bridges will close this evening. While the city is preparing for
significant flooding, it is hopeful that the area levees and various
flood protection built since the historic flood of 1993 will keep the
major residential and commercial areas along the river from flooding.

There are two areas, however, that are out of man's control:

With Saylorville Reservoir having very little flood capacity left, the
Raccoon River and the Des Moines River will rise in accordance with
future rainfalls.
The National Weather Service is forecasting significant rain for
Central Iowa beginning tomorrow night. As much as six inches of rain
could fall in North Central Iowa along the Des Moines and Raccoon
River basins. Given that the ground is already completely saturated,
the runoff from this much rain into the streams and rivers could cause
catastrophic flooding. Many of the levees built following 1993 could
be overtopped. This will cause major flooding along Des Moines' north
side neighborhood (the 2nd Ave. area), the Southside of Downtown Des
Moines, and Des Moines' Southeast side.

Dan Klopfer, an elder of Grace Church and long-time employee of the
Des Moines Water Works, talked with Pastor Phil this afternoon. The
Des Moines Water Works is confident at this point that even if Des
Moines was to once again experience catastrophic flooding like it did
in 1993, the Des Moines Water Works will stay dry and protected behind
its levees.

Pastor Phil would like to ask you, the friends and family of Grace
Church, to pray for the following:

Pray that the Lord will keep Central Iowa from receiving the heavy
rains forecast for the last part of this week.
Pray for the protection of the police, fire, and city officials who
are going to be working around the clock the next few days.
Pray for the other major cities in Iowa (Mason City, Cedar Falls,
Waterloo, and Iowa City) that are experiencing signficant flooding.
Pray that God's people would use this event to show Christlike love
and steady help to friends and neighbors experiecing the full force of
this disaster.

If you find yourself in the path of this flood, we are here to help
you. Let us know how we can assist you. You can call the church office
at 265-0199 or 265-7350. We will keep you up-to-date if there are new
updates or prayer requests or requests for help that come into the
church office.

Blessings,

Chris Eller
Grace Church