Special Flood Update - June 2008

Dear University of Iowa alumni and friends,

As many of you are probably already aware, Mother Nature has hit Hawkeye country and the entire state especially hard with severe weather and flooding. Many members of our Hawkeye family are directly affected by this situation.

But when trouble like this summer’s flooding threatens us, we’re reminded of the cooperation, dedication, and community spirit that make our University and our town so remarkable.

As the Iowa River began to rise, University of Iowa students, staff, faculty and alumni dropped what they were doing to take up shovels and sandbags, pitching in to protect both our campus and their neighbors’ homes. Joining folks from throughout the community, they’ve offered beds for displaced residents, consoled those who’ve suffered a loss, and helped spread word about people in need.

The impulse to pull together—previously apparent after the 2006 tornado and the last major floods in 1993 — will help us weather this storm. For more information about current conditions and how you can help, see the following links:

University of Iowa flood information http://uiflood.blogspot.com/

City of Iowa City news: http://www.icgov.org/default/apps/GEN/news.asp

American Red Cross Grant Wood Chapter: http://grantwood-redcross.org/menus/index.html%3Fmain-menu.htm%262

Iowa River conditions: http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/stationinfo2.cfm?sid=IOWI4&fid=IOWI4&dt=S

In this time of need, we can all take pride in how our fellow Hawkeyes have responded, and in the caring and compassion so many of our alumni, friends, faculty, staff and students have shown during this challenging situation.

Go Hawks!

Sally Mason
University of Iowa President
sally-mason@uiowa.edu