Help Colorado, learn from flooding

Thank you for your coverage of the ongoing flood disaster in Colorado which, to me, appears to be much worse than the flooding we experienced in 2008. Three things Iowans should do:

1. Contribute generously to the American Red Cross and other disaster relief agencies. We know how much these charities helped here. We need to return the favor.

2. Consider the role of climate change in this disaster. Extreme precipitation events have been increasing in Iowa and elsewhere over the last century. The risk of more extreme weather is one of the reasons we urgently need to slow down, stop and reverse the buildup of greenhouse gases.

3. Let the Colorado flood serve as a reminder that we still have a long way to go to prepare for floods and drought in this state. We need comprehensive watershed management to fight both problems.

If you want to get more involved, attend the Cedar River Watershed Coalition meeting at 1 p.m. today at our new public library.

Sen. Rob Hogg

Cedar Rapids