Flood in time of drought

Most of Minnesota is flat. But southeastern Minnesota, sometimes called the "driftless" area, is a beautiful region of steep bluffs and canyons where rivers and streams converge on their way to the Mississippi. The bedrock emerges through the relatively thin layer of glacial till (sediment). The small farm towns of recent European settlement have had a major impact on the ecology of this region, through grazing, row crop tilling, fire suppression, and chemical use, although recent conservation efforts have begun to slow or reverse the water contamination caused by erosion and runoff.

After months of drought that turned the Minnesota grass an uncharacteristic brown, part of a four-year drought affecting the north, and shorter term drought in the south of the state, the last two weekends have sent us devastating storms. The first one knocked down hundreds of trees and damaged buildings in the northern Twin Cities, including parts of the State fairgrounds. Then, in the last two days it rained non-stop. The rainfall was measured at between 10-17 inches in some areas. The hills and valleys of the bluff country to the southeast of the Twin Cities became the site of flash floods that have already killed several people, and devastated many towns. In some towns, evacuations meant that folks survived while their homes did not. Although flooding is not unknown in this area, this is the worst in many decades. Bluestem Prairie bloggers offer updates and eyewitness accounts of events from Winona, one of the flooded areas. This area now joins more southern parts of the Midwest and Texas that have been suffering record rainfall and severe flooding this year.

One couple took refuge on the roof of their house. The flood sheared it from the foundations and they were sent spinning through the town before the house came to rest and they could be rescued. I can't help but remember the tales of Katrina and the Gulf Coast. While this flood is much smaller in proportion, and the state's relief response will be swift, many of the folks who live in these towns will be faced with the loss of home and livelihood.

I know that the Caribbean islands hit by Hurricane Dean are suffering as well, and I am worried about my friends who are due to return from the Yucatan tomorrow on the day that Hurricane Dean will likely hit Cancun. Because they are people of good sense, I trust that they will do their best to remains safe, but it is quite likely that they will be caught up in some chaos. My heart is sore as well for the victims of the earthquake in Peru. I resist the evangelical history of the phrase "signs and wonders" but we ignore these messages at our peril.