Cindy Axne: “It has been almost 2 months since severe flooding devastated communities in southwest Iowa and our neighbors in…”

“It has been almost 2 months since severe flooding devastated communities in southwest Iowa and our neighbors in Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Entire towns were under water, homes were destroyed, and family farms were devastated. Small businesses are facing irreparable damage, and many local schools may be forced to permanently close their doors. I have been down to the flood zones multiple times to speak with farmers, homeowners, and business owners who have lost everything. Their resilience is inspiring, but the damage is heartbreaking. When I helped Lizzie Young and her family muck out her house, I saw firsthand how desperately Iowans need that disaster relief. David Leuth, a farmer from Percival, has been kayaking out to his farm field to assess and repair his damage. Fran Par, a Pacific Junction resident whose home remained under water for weeks, has been helping repair large city water pumps to move water out of the flooded area. In Hamburg, Grape Community Hospital, the only rural hospital in the area, had to bring in military-operated water tanks just to keep its doors open to provide basic services. True to who Iowans are, they are now providing space to local businesses inside the hospital so that those businesses don't have to leave the area. We want to keep people in our State.…”