Yes, this is Iowa. Presidential Candidate Governor Inslee was there to review the devastation of the places ice and water had it way with the Missouri River.

One of the residents that still remain is a town named Hamburg, Iowa spoke to Governor Inslee. The ice was very destructive as it floated through the town. Silos full of grain were ripped open. Last fall's grain was exposed to contaminated water and is worthless. The grain is not salvageable. It will be moldy if it isn't already. No livestock can consume any of that grain and it cannot be used in any food products intended for humans. It can't be used for pet food either. Last year's grain is lost in Hamburg.

 That is only the beginning. Homes and buildings are covered in black mold, which makes me wonder about the air quality to remaining residents.

The comment by the resident was about seeing Hamburg from a helicopter. If Governor Inslee believes that is necessary, the Army Corp and/or USGS may already have aerial views or would accommodate his visit when those aerial photos are gathered. It is not at all unusual for the federal agencies to take aerial pictures to clearly understand the problems. Sometimes, media aerial views are accepted by those agencies as well.

Modern day Iowa is not resilient to the climate crisis and it's current state is not sustainable.

If there are no air quality studies conducted by now, the US EPA needs to carry out that responsibility and it can't be conducted from a desk in DC.

April 23, 2019
By Robin Opsahi and Barbara Rodriquez

The longest-serving Republican in the Iowa Legislature (click here) said he's leaving the party, in part because of his disapproval with President Donald Trump.

Rep. Andy McKean, who represents Anamosa in the state House of Representatives, announced Tuesday that he plans to register as a Democrat and vote with the minority caucus.

"With the 2020 presidential election looming on the horizon, I feel, as a Republican, that I need to be able to support the standard bearer of our party," McKean said during a news conference at the Capitol. "Unfortunately, that's something I'm unable to do."

McKean said Trump is just one part of a bigger national trend of partisanship that made him feel out of place in the Republican caucus. McKean said when he joined the Iowa Statehouse 40 years ago, there were many moderates in the Republican Party. But now, he said, the ranks have thinned.

"I think the party has veered very sharply to the right," McKean said. "That concerns me."...

...McKean had a "no party" affiliation on the Iowa Legislature website briefly Tuesday before updating it to reflect that he now identifies as a Democrat. According to the site, McKean has left his Republican committee assignments.