The area of Iowa where I live is really summed up by some famous words by an equally famous actor-"Is this Heaven? No, It's Iowa!" From the movie Field of Dreams filmed in Dyersville Iowa. Unfortunately, in the recent week many think this is on the other end of the spectrum and turning into hell.

We are now living during the time of a great flood. Unlike anything ever seen in this area. Cedar Rapids is underwater. I really can't describe it as words escape me to tell you what I see. Things such as the Czech Museum, The Village and all the homes and businesses - gone.

Check out our local stations www.kcrg.com and www.kgan.com Both should be given medals of honor for the hours and days of coverage that has saved lives.

As we know with Katrina, many people did not want to leave because they would have had to leave their pets behind. After Katrina, this was a side that was seriously looked at and action taken. The sad downfall of this is until we have FEMA step in, some of those new rules don't take effect. So it takes the community to step forward.

If you feel the need to help, please read the following prepared by our kennel club president and please feel free to pass it on! I'm off to volunteer.

later gators,
C

Permission to cross post as needed....

I just got off the phone with Mark Schearer, head of the IOWA VETERINARY RAPID RESPONSE TEAM [(515) 281-5798]. He indicated that they have been working with the AKC Disaster Relief Dept(Lisa Peterson). I believe he said that the AKC would be sending them SEVERAL HUNDRED crates and kennels to assist with the pet shelters in the Cedar Rapids area. Truly amazing! He couldnt say enough good things about the AKC!!!!But, that doesnt mean everything is done. They are going to be in dire need of volunteers to help with the Linn County animals that are pouring into the Kirkwood Equine Ceneter in Cedar Rapids.Projections indicate that there will be OVER 800 located at that site...and my guess would be that the latest round of storms may push it to 1000.

With the Cedar Rapids Shelter being a total loss...Kirkwood will serve for the next several months as a base of operations.If you would like to volunteer to help, please call the Operations Center in Des Moines. 515-323-4267. The Des Moines Disaster team is coordinating the volunteer effort so that the folks at the Kirkwood can focus on the dozens of cats, dogs, horses, etc that are coming in EVERY HOUR! Its a rate of 25 per hour...I did not get the Johnson County information as he was called away to an emergancy briefing to discuss the violent storms that are heading our way tonight. I'll forward that as I get it.

Once agin, volunteers are needed at the Kirkwood Community College Equine center...call 515-323-4267 to help. It is critical that when you signin at Kirkwood, that you sign in as IVRRT. That way you are covered as a "temp" employee of the state of Iowa for insurance purposes.

Hug your hounds, unfortunatley it is going to get worse before it gets better. We got 4 more inches of rain today.
Scot Northern
President - Cedar Rapids Kennel Association