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What's left after a local community was flooded recently.

The words of Amy Ray come to mind here:

You build by the river: it's pretty, but you'll pay
'Cause the springtime brings the floodplain,
And your cut-bank washes away...

I'm not for one minute trying to minimize the tragic suffering of these victims, but it is the Mississippi River. It floods. Everyone knows this. I just can't help but wonder what people who build their homes in floodplains expect.

Thanks for responding, James. This flooding was caused by an usually small river in SE IL that floods every year, but not like this past one. Combine all the horrible storms and large amounts of flooding in Iowa, etc., weak levees, infrastructures that have not been upgraded in years, and it was a recipe for failure. Folks around here have lived with yearly flooding all their lives. I'm 51 and have never seen flooding like this in my lifetime. The last time it was this bad was back in 1950, so while these folks choose to live/build along the river they do know the risks. They also understand, as did the native americans before them, the value and beauty of living on the farmland and on the banks of these rivers on these flood plains. Also, many of these small towns were founded upon these rivers during times that river transportation was the main source of transportation. It's a way of life that many (my sister and B-I-L included) choose to carry on. It is something that cannot be explained, I think, unless you find yourself living on/near such a river. There is hardly a day go by that I don't find myself sitting along the bank of the Wabash which separates IN & IL contemplating life, problems, etc. The beauty of it is serene ... the power awesome.

My posting of these photos was not meant to appeal to the tragedy ... some will rebuild and life will go on. I simply wanted to record a very historical time in my life and then to share. The sadness of the childrens' stuffed toys (especially the 'dead' Elmo) really got to me, and I had to photograph them besides all the floodwater. I've never seen anything like it.

Thanks again!

Cher

umm, no it isn't.

well, apparently not.

these pictures were taken in indiana, from the floods on the wabash river (cher lives in vincennes), a river which has rarely reached the flood levels of the past few weeks. also the white river in indiana flooded severely and reached record levels and many small towns south of indianapolis were hit extremely hard, taking virtually everything that thousands had.

also, much of the flooding and damage was miles away from the actual river and not actually on flood plains. the river flooding caused drainage to back up resulting in horrific loss of homes, property and millions in damages.

not meaning to sound harsh, just stating the facts.

Great shots Cher. Very moving.

Thanks for taking/sharing them.