We just stayed at the Copper Kettle/Best Western last week. We were in town for my nieces graduation party. My brother and his family live just a mile up from there, thankfully on the hill, so they are safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines.

It reminds me of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico , July, 1954 when the Rio Grande overflowed its banks and flooded Nuevo Laredo to the second floor of most buildings. The watermarks are still visible on some of these edifices. Laredo, Texas, because it has a high bank on its side of the river, missed being flooded by inches. Even so, it was devastating for those of us on this side because there was no water, it was of course boiling hot (in the 100's as usual for Laredo), and everyone had to get shots for all sorts of maladies that could occur in a situation such as that.
But the devastation that occurred in Nuevo Laredo took quite a long time to overcome.

My heart goes out to everyone in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

I grew up in Marion , Iowa and my mother and lots of great friends still live there. I visit my Mother three or four times a year and was just there in late May. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone. See ya in September!
Linda Blackford