Natural Disasters: Midwest Flooding

Steve Apps, Associated

Damn. Sometimes it's just not good to be a prophet.

OK, not a prophet so much as ... a good guesser? Attentive? Something.

Just yesterday, we blogged about the looming infrastructure crisis in this country. Today, Raw Story tells us that homes are washing away in the Midwest, and some ten people have lost their lives due to flooding, driven by stormy weather. Thousands have lost power.

Flood warnings have gone out for Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa. In Minnesota, a state of emergency was declared in Houston County, where floodwaters damaged several roads and caused mudslides. The weather service has posted a tornado warning for south-central Illinois and a severe thunderstorm warning for Indiana. A severe weather warning was also posted for Wisconsin.

Six of the ten dead were in Michigan. The AP has announced that a tornado tore through Nebraska.

At least some of the flooding resulted from a broken dam.

National Guard troops are working in central and western Indiana to help people displaced by flooding.

Meanwhile, the East coast is sweltering under a heat wave. Welcome to global warming, children. It's pretty damn hot here, right now, despite the lateness of the hour.

And, before you ask, just like last time when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf coast, Bush is on holiday. Flying around Europe.

Stumble It!