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It happens that I’m in Cedar Rapids, Iowa today. I want to tell you a little bit about the things that have made me cry. https://twitter.com/emmillerwrites/status/1296885027985395713
We were totally unprepared for Cedar Rapids to look like a war zone. There’s been very little media coverage compared to other disasters (but thanks to @emmillerwrites & @RNS for this great story).
Driving through CR, much of the city looks like this.
Driving through CR, much of the city looks like this.
They have lost half of their trees here. And not just the little new treelets, but the well-established, century-old grande dames. Here’s one that was destroyed in the cemetery.
We came here so I could visit the oldest mosque in America, which has been on my travel bucket list for years. Thankfully, the mosque itself seems to only have damage to the porch.
But just a couple doors down from the mosque, there were homes with far worse damage. Across the city, 11 days after the storm, thousands of people still don’t have power. Street signs are down; street lights aren’t working. You drive carefully through the intersections.
Apart from the damage itself, what has brought me to tears several times today are the many instances of Iowans working together. There is a remarkable spirit of resilience here. Total strangers are helping each other clear debris and tack on temporary siding.
At the high school and the library, they’re handing out free meals and water to the folks who still don’t have power.
Some people have been coming here every day to volunteer and distribute food and diapers. Even though they have their own yards to clear and roofs to fix.
And you know what’s missing? Any single hint of partisanship. All the political yard signs were carried off by the storm.
At least for this moment, there are not Trump supporters and Biden supporters. There are just Iowans seeing each other through.
At least for this moment, there are not Trump supporters and Biden supporters. There are just Iowans seeing each other through.
I hope Americans start paying attention to what’s going on here. The devastation is real, and underreported. But the love & pride here are real too.
You can help by making a donation to the United Way of East Iowa. Everything helps. Thanks. (End)
You can help by making a donation to the United Way of East Iowa. Everything helps. Thanks. (End)
