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PREPARING FOR THE WORST

June 12, 2008

While several of Iowa's larger towns have been already hammered by floods, Des Moines still awaits the worst. The crack Tax Update news team investigated preparations downtown last night. Some of our findings:

The Des Moines river is high, for one thing. Notice the tops of the lampposts just sticking out of the water where the Simon Estes Amphitheater usually is. They are just as tall as the ones you can see further up on the bank.

This new wine shop and wine bar on Court Avenue was preparing for its grand opening.

Steps are being taken to preserve essential services.

If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that you have to take disaster preparation into your own hands -- like this well-prepared couple. We assume that FEMA will provide floaties and snorkels so we can all get to our FEMA housebouts.

The news isn't reassuring:

Indeed, officials said the next 24 hours could be the most important in Des Moines' 157-year history.
The possibility of massive flooding from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, coupled with heavy rain that began early Thursday, greatly increased the chance of widespread damage and set the stage for a prolonged recovery that will be made even more difficult by closed streets, filled basements and watery obstacles for police officers and firefighters.

and:

Flood-control officials predicted the Des Moines River on Saturday will surpass 1993's record height, a level five feet higher than what was predicted a day earlier. Moreover, the river is expected to hover near that record for at least three days.

On the good side, walking up to the 14th floor if the floods take out the electricity would be excellent exercise.

Tags: Des Moines.downtown.