Back In The Saddle

OK I am back. You were probably saying to yourself, "Hey, what happened to Big Pappa?" Either that or you really don't care. I like to believe that you really did miss me.

I was up in the great Northwoods of Wisconsin for the last several days. While I was up there, tornadoes were tearing up the area around my home town. Fortunately I didn't come home to a destroyed home. Some however weren't so lucky.

Here are some pictures of the town of Parkersburg, Iowa and the destruction that was left behind.

Tornadoes are a funny thing. They will completely destroy one house and the house right next door will be untouched. Residents of Dunkerton, Iowa and several other surrounding communities emerged from their basements to find their homes, cars, farms, and towns in ruin. A massive clean-up effort has begun with the help of volunteers from all over. The large amount of people turning out to help those in need is a testament to the character of the people here in the Midwest.

I have noticed one thing in this time of tragedy that is different from some "recent" disasters you heard about. The people here in Iowa aren't blaming the government for anything. Most of the people that are now homeless are relying on family, friends and volunteers to pick up the pieces. They aren't standing with their hands out bellyaching about how the government isn't there to help. This was a true tragedy for HUNDREDS of people. Schools were destroyed, farms, and businesses. It was truly amazing to see how many people turned out to help just hours after the destruction.

Here are some additional pictures from Dunkerton, Iowa.











Again as a measure of the quality of people here in the area, there have been so many volunteers that new offers to volunteer are being turned down. Here at The Big Bald Blog, our prayers and thoughts go out to everyone who has lost property and loved ones in last weekend's storms.