Evacuated.

So the flooding got INSANE, it kept rising past the predicted levels, cresting later and later, I think reaching the 1000-year level. Nuckin futs. I believe it crested yesterday at 32 feet. Anyhow, Coe College was for the most part safe, except for its physical plant building, but is without power. They moved us all to Cornell in Mt. Vernon about a half hour away, expecting to keep us there for a few days, then received word that Coe would be without power for at least 2 weeks. So they sent everyone home, if they had a way to get there, and Cornell offered to house anyone who did not have a place to go for as long as needed (bless their heart). Latest news, though, is that we should have power to the whole campus within 2 or 3 days of the water receding from the phys plant building, so the time frame is looking better: http://coecollege1851.org/

SOOO for the time being, I'm here in Chicago again!! I may be visiting Beloit. I have yet to hear from Helen, though - 2 days ago she sent me a text saying they haven't been able to leave their house, but I think she should be ok. I haven't been able to get a hold of her since, but I'm hoping that's just because she hasn't been able to charge her phone. I'm about to dig out Who's Where and find her on the map. Everyone pray for all the 4,000 evacuated families in Cedar Rapids, plus all those elsewhere! I'm not even religious.

Edit: See the guys' blog for an entertaining story by Gage about a very Eckburg-esque expedition to an Iron & Wine concert in Iowa City that I was supposed to attend.