Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and other cities struggling with the aftermath of flooding.

Update June 17, 2008

Levees have broken along the Mississippi River, flooding many acres. CNN reported live today that livestock was treading water, some of whom could not be easily reached. Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri are all potentially affected.

Meanwhile, KETV in Omaha, Nebraska reports a heart-warming story of a labrador retriever saving a boy from a swollen river.

Note to Rapid Response team members: Thank you for continuing to send your emails with availability to Marti. Our available list looks promising since this began three days ago. Thank you for what you do for the animals.

Update June 16, 2008:

Best Friends Volunteer Manager, Tiffani Hill spoke with the kennel manager - Terry - at the Kirkwood Animal Health Technology Bldg on the south side of Kirkwood Community College. The animals are being taken to their site and then dispersed to different locations. All people who have lost a pet should contact them at 319-398-4980. They are calling this location Kirkwood CC Temp animal shelter.

The Animal Health Bldg is where people should go to fill out
a lost pet report. We encourage them to also take a picture of
their pet if they have one. Terry said that HSUS is there.

There is a website that has other pet shelters and offers on how to
volunteer at http://2008flood.org/. The official site is called 2008 Flood Org and has other information on it besides the information for pets, such as people wanting to shelter others, volunteer feeding, etc. Tiffani was impressed, so please encourage everyone to go to this site if they have needs other than just for their pets.

Meanwhile, Rich should be on the ground soon and other updates on deployment will be forthcoming. Continue to email Marti at martil@bestfriends.org in regards to your status, and we will verify your certifications and get your release form on file so you can deploy quickly when we receive a go.

Update June 15, 2008:

Rich Crook received a formal request to send a small team of swift water rescuers to the Washington County Fairgrounds in Southern Iowa. Those people have been identified and will be on site Monday.

Meanwhile, Marti and Ellen have been organizing other Rapid Response volunteers who are currently on standby in the event we need to deploy support to the temporary sheltering facility that has been set up at the fairgrounds.

Again, if available and interested, email Marti at martil@bestfriends.org.

Original Article:

We are soliciting volunteers from the registered and trained Rapid Rresponse team who can deploy to Iowa in the next two weeks. Mostly, the affected areas have need of kennel help, but there is also the possible need for individuals with swift water training.

You must have FEMA certifications in IS-10, IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 to deploy, and be able to pay your own travel costs.

For more information, view these online articles on the situation in Iowa.
Des Moines Register Front Page

Des Moines Animal Rescue Slide Show

CNN showed an interview yesterday in Cedar Rapids where the officials declared the flooding there as the result of a 500 year storm event.
Cedar Rapids Gazette Front page

Cedar Valley Humane Society had been taking in animals, but one news report indicates they are full and some animals are now being taken to Kirkwood Community College.

How You Can Help:

Please respond to Marti with your specific availability (beginning and end dates), and your skills. You may post here, or send an email.

Marti Lombardi
Best Friends National Rapid Response Volunteer coordinator
martil@bestfriends.org

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