I haven't read the last few days worth of messages all that closely, but 
thought you all might appreciate a short update from tornado alley. The IA 
Preservation Office has a person in Iowa City today to help assess the 
impact to historic properties, so I'll hopefully know more in a few days...

The tornado path was straight through several local and National Register 
historic districts. Early reports are that 3 to 4 listed properties are 
completely gone, with many more severely damaged. These reports, of course, 
are sketchy. One building that I just reviewed for local landmark status was 
nearly destroyed. The local preservation commission was meeting to landmark 
it when the storms hit on Thursday night. St. Patrick's Church (you saw the 
pictures) was not listed, but is considered historically significant in the 
Irish Catholic community of Iowa City.

The tornado that hit Jones County (north and east of IA City), came within a 
mile of the recently relocated Hale Bridge, a 3-span bowstring arch (built 
1879) that was flown by helicopter to its new home about a month ago. It was 
not harmed. We have yet to hear reports from other areas, and are still 
waiting to hear any concrete information.

One thing that has crossed my mind many times over the last few days, 
considering the anniversary of the SF earthquake, ongoing cleanup in the 
Gulf region, and the tornado season knocking at our door:  when a property 
is destroyed or damaged, when people are hurt or killed, the type of storm 
or the force of the storm or the rain or the hail or the destruction that 
follows doesn't really matter. The end resullt is still the same: buildings 
and lives need to be rebuilt. Thankfully, our communities tend to band 
together when things like this happen. Makes me kinda proud to be a part of 
it all.

bamh.

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