My city is underwater and Im going to Disneyland?

[mshrm]

Ugh... things here in Cedar Rapids are such a mess right now. We are scheduled to leave on Wednesday for a month long vacation including 2 weeks in California. My house is fine so far but I cant use water, so I cant wash clothes to pack or clean the house for the house sitter. There is no postal service so the paycheck I was supposed to get is not here. The roads are blocked and my dh cant get home to spend the last weekend with us before we leave on the trip. We are asked to not travel about town if its not an emergency so I havent done the final shopping yet either. And the worst part is I feel guilty for getting ready to leave for so long when my beautiful city is in such peril.

On the other side is that the hotel rooms, event tickets, gas cards, food cards and attractons have all been prepaid without trip insurance so if I choose to cancel we will lose thousands of dollars.

I know logically that I can wash clothes at a laundromat out of town somewhere and also buy what we need on the road as well. But its hard to go on a great trip with so much happening at home.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

oh wow im so sorry for you im watchign on the news right now. I watch fox news alot. I hope you guys have a grate taway from this mess. Have a grate trip

 

[pixiewings71]

Have fun on your trip. And don't take anything but empty bags, then you can fill them with souvies and new clothes on your vacation. OK, not very practical but still fun.

I'm sorry about your city, and I hope you get stuff done before it's time to go.

 

[Plantlady]

I understand what you're saying!

We were hit by softball size hail. Our car was totaled, towed away yesterday. Then an E4 tornado hits. We're fine, but the town's a mess.

And, we're packing to go to Disneyland. While some are without homes.

DS11 asked, just last week, if our house got destroyed by a tornado (we were crammed in the bathroom, listening to sirens at the time).. would we still go to Disneyland?

We told him ABSOLUTELY! We have hotel rooms paid for, food paid for, why wouldn't we leave?

The weather has just been frightful lately.

 

[NorCalPrincess]

I am so sorry for you and your town. Sounds like you need a vacation though.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Wow, I can't believe how your part of the country is being hit. Our thoughts are with you and I hope you all make it through this difficult time.

Have a great vacation. Sounds like you need a little Disney magic!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

oh wow i just read my dh your post about being cramed in a bathroom. he agrees 100% and would of told ds the same thing lol hope you all have a wonderful time and hope the bad weather stops at least for the flooding and tornado victoms to get cleaned up after.. i hate AZ the sun but you know ive been told for years its the only state that dosent have floods earthquakes tornados..well not like bad (we had a flood once but it was a flood zone we lived in and monsoons hit bad. my son wanted to go play in grampas fishing boat in the middle of the yard.)
any ways enjoy your selfs and try not to watch the news even just a peak could ruine your day... ignore everythign around you and have fun

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

go...have fun..don't watch the news....it seems like Iowa has been on the national news for weather realted issues too many times lately! They just had on the news...flood stage for CR...12 ft and it is cresting at 31.1 I live 2.5 hours north of you and we are getting it too. Luckily my house is dry but both my grandmothers have had water in their houses. My SIL lives in Waverly and her entire basement was flooded with an additional 7-10 inches on her main floor.....and she just remodeled her first floor. I am soooo ready for all this water to be gone!!!

If I had a trip planned and paid for, I would go also. Pack your clothes, wash them at the hotel. Pick up your last few things you need once you get there. It will all be ok and CR will still be there when you get back....(just dryer and cleaner..hopefully)

Have a good time!!!!

 

[Corpsebride]

The fact that your city is under emergency conditions and you are still planning on going to DL to me is very telling of the wonderful spirit in you. Your heart must be filled with Disney Magic and hope for the future even though things seem so bleak right now. Don't live in guilt about coming out to California, if anyone deserves to think of nothing else but going on Disney Rides right now , its you and your family. Of course you want your city to recover, and it will, it will whether you are there or not. So pack up those dirty socks and come on out!! You know all of our hearts go out to you and your family and your city. Big Hugs!

 

[beansf]

My hometown is due south from Cedar Rapids. My thoughts are with those affected in Iowa...but in other news...have a TERRIFIC time at Disneyland!

 

[irishbacker92]

The best thing for you to do is go on vacation. Try to find a friend or family friend etc who's house in underwater and let them use your place while you are gone. Our town flooded in 03 and the best thing you can do is give someone a shower, some a/c, and a clean bed. Sure you may worry something will be broken or a stain on the carpet or whatever but believe me you will feel very fortunate that is all that happened to your house. I am sure you have heard of people sharing hotel rooms for hundereds of miles.

Every one thinks that fema comes in and cuts eveyone checks and life is back to normal in a few months. That is not the case at all. It was over 2 years before many of the residents houses were bought out and made into green space. Many received nothing at all. Very few people have flood insurance. Most who do wait forever to get any relief. Meanwhile it is divorce, bankruptcy, political promises broken, job losses etc. The ones with water in there house right now don't even know it, but there lives will change forever.

Have as much fun as you can at disney and be grateful that you are not effected. I am sure that the majority who are never even sniffed water in previous flood.

 

[ACDSNY]

Our prayers go out to all those affected by the floods.

I agree you should go and enjoy your trip. I like the idea from a previous poster of offering someone a place to stay while your away.

Last Jan. the day before we left for DL our area was hit with a pretty bad storm leaving people without power for days. I had already scheduled the day off in order to run errands, wash clothes and pack. Needless to say, there was no washing clothes since we had no power, water or heat. Luckily it was a short trip so I only needed to pick up a couple of outfits to finish our packing. I was more worried about having no water since we have a few farm animals.

 

[mshrm]

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts for our city and people. I hadnt realized Cedar Rapids was getting such national news. We are all watching the local stations so we can know the latest updates on things like road closings, mail service and water usage. I didnt even know that Tim Russert had died until this morning.

Plantlady I know you fully understand the emotions Im feeling. I saw a couple of days ago what had happened to Kansas. That was the same night our boy scout camp got hit? My thoughts are with you and your town. I guess we will be at Disney around the same time since were both packing. I take it your flying? We are planning a road trip that takes us thru Denver for a Rockies game and trip to the Grand Canyon. I only hope all the roads are open on Wednesday so we can go.

Iluvmickeymouse I hope your family comes thru all of this okay. I dont think there is anyone left in Iowa that doesnt have a friend or family member who has not been devestated by flood or tornado.

Beanf are you still living just south of Cedar Rapids? I understand that both Corralville and Iowa City are still preparing for the worst, they are not supposed to get the last of it until Tuesday.

Irishbacker92 I cant agree more about FEMA. I dont really have a lot of confidence about that agency but I do give them credit in the fact that they were here and helping from the start. However the agents said that was because they were already here to help the tornado victims from a couple of weeks ago. Both my dh and I have offered our home to our co-workers since we both know people who have lost everything. I hope someone takes us up on the offer because it would really help me to feel like I was helping more.

Thanks again everyone. The Disney spirit can be very uplifting!

 

[mom2my3kids]

We got hit in Indiana as well, thankfully we live up on the higher part of town and it did not affect us. But many in my county are without homes, or can't live in their homes because of the damage. My heart goes out to you, I hope you have a great time on your vacation.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

have fun but coming to grandcanyon make sure you wear sun screen stuff the sun here is killer

Hope you all have fun on your trip andmy haerts go out to every one who is affected by the bad weather

 

[dizneekrazee]

I had heard of the damage caused in Iowa, but I dont watch much TV so I had seen it. I turned the TV on today for my son to watch a movie and the news was on showing Cedar Rapids. It is beyond devastating. My heart goes out to all of you.

I hope you guys have a great vacation . Try not to watch the news. Hopefully when you get back, things will be a bit better.

Hugs to all.

 

[mshrm]

Here is something very uplifting. I went out today for the first time since the floods began to go and find some water for the house. The streets that I drove on to get to the store have all been plastered with American Flags. Their are hundreds of them on so many streets! I dont know who came out and covered the city with all those flags but what a wonderful site it was. It was just a reminder of what great place America is no matter what the tradgedy.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I hope you are having a grate time, hope nothing hit your house while you were gone. the after math looks horibule *hugs all who are close to it or getting hit*

Thats cool about the flags