Iowa Voters' Concerns as the Presidential Election Nears

Massive Flood Damage, Ethanol Plants and the War in Iraq Top Worries

According to the Sioux City Journal and the Waterloo Courier Newspapers, Iowa voters are concerned about the effects on their families who have military overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it's weather on the minds of many voters. Iowa was hit with one of the worst winters on record in over 30 years followed by devastating spring tornadoes that wiped out a third of Parkersburg, Iowa, devastated parts of Dunkerton and surrounding communities.

Soon after the tornadoes hit the massive flooding started and downtown Waterloo, Iowa, had to be evacuated. Sand baggers were needed for weeks trying to keep the water from taking over neighborhoods to no avail in the down town Waterloo area and on the west side. Cedar Falls, Iowa, was also fighting back the tide of water that was flowing into their neighborhoods and area businesses. The aftermath of the massive flooding was much worse than the horrible flooding of 1993 and left many families homeless.

The local Walmart Supercenters in Waterloo and Cedar Falls donated supplies and able bodies to help with the families affected by both tornadoes and flooding by donated truck loads of supplies to the Salvation Army. Many families are still living in temporary homes, campers, hotels or staying with other family members waiting for aid. Areas of the massive flooding were not in a flood plain and the owners had no flood insurance.

FEMA is handling the devastation home by home, neighborhood by neighborhood and business by business as best as it can, but the damages are so vast and widespread that workers are stretched to their limits. In many areas, the homes are completely destroyed or are so badly damaged that they need to be bulldozed. Many older homes affected still had poured plaster walls instead of drywall and entire sections had gave way under the weight of the water.