holy cow. major flooding in iowa city, coralville and cedar rapids— my friend kristin, a book conservator, reports that they're evacuating the UI library and that the art museum has moved its artworks to chicago for the duration. news websites are populated with photos of rescue workers and business owners cruising the coralville strip in small motorboats and canoes. they've implemented the 500 year flood plain plan, for goodness' sake. parts of interstate I-80 are drowned and closed, and I'm not altogether sure I'll even be able to reach town for my visit next weekend. thankfully, so far it sounds and looks like my friends' homes are not among those underwater– but I'm sending out my best wishes and hopes for dry land to all those affected– I cannot even imagine the loss and slog…
(photos care of iowa city press citizen)