ORLANDO -- Central Floridians are no strangers to wild weather, so they can understand the problems going on right now in the midwest.
At least 36,000 people are homeless because of flooding. But there is some good news for Iowa residents -- the flood waters are receding, but it is a painfully slow process.
In Cedar Rapids, residents were lining up to finally get back into their homes and survey the damage.
In Iowa City, the Iowa River crested Sunday at a little over 31 feet. It is expected to start receding late Monday afternoon.
Several buildings on the University of Iowa campus were also flooded.
The damage is devastating to the state where 83 of 99 counties have been declared disaster areas. Local, state and federal workers are on the ground trying to help flood victims.
FEMA administrator David Paulison said it was some of the worst flooding he had seen since Katrina.
Iowa's governor is determined the state will recover.
"We've had a real blow to the gut, but we are going to keep fighting and we are going to be more united and stronger at the end of the day because of it. We will not be deterred," said Gov. Chet Culver.
Very few deaths have been reported because of the flooding.
Central Florida Response
So far, local chapters of the Red Cross haven't sent anyone to the Iowa disaster area, but they expect they will soon.
The Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is already stretched thin for this year. The fund has already financed an unprecedented 32 disasters across the nation in a short six weeks
To donate, call (800) RED CROSS, or visit the donation Web site at American.RedCross.org/
The Red Cross also has an area on its Web site where you can check on loved ones who have been affected by a disaster. It is called the Safe and Well Web site.
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