Flooded Corn Field

The South Skunk River has been cresting for the last two weeks. Last night we had a big storm that contributed to flood large portions of Ames (Iowa) my hometown. The corn has been growing very strong in the fields where I get the materials to make corn paper. I was looking forward for the corn to mature and dry before it was time to see the big machinery collecting the corn during harvest time.


This afternoon I went to see how the flood had affected the corn and this is what I found: The river was running thorough the corn field. All "my corn" will be ruined! I hope the farmers who own the field have flood insurance. After I finished shooting this video, I found out that the town water plant was shut down. We were advised to boil the residual water before drinking it. A trip to the supermarket to get bottled water made me see how we act during emergencies.

There was no water left over to buy, and the lines of hoarders with their supermarket carts loaded with bottled water went to the back of the store. It was very busy and I got to think about people in other cities during an emergency (New Orleans, New York, the Florida Keys). I found an abandoned 12-pack of flavored water and I grabbed it along with two cases of seltzer water, the only water I found to buy. I will continue reporting about my corn paper project, hopefully not under this case of emergency. I still have two ears of corn left over to eat for dinner.