For me, not directly affected with the flood, it looks like things might finally be getting back to some sort of normal, whatever normal is.  My email service came back this morning (only 40 messages to read there) school is back in session, roads are starting to re-open for my family to get back to work, etc.

I've noticed how even though i was not directly affected by the flood, the ripple effect is hitting me as well.  Several of my staff either did not make it to work, or have a family member home with no job at the moment.  My sister is at home with no job at the moment.  My students need time daily to talk about what they see on tv or what is happening within their households.  We are dog sitting for a family displaced by the flood.  So, even small things (or in this case a large amount of water) has impacts on everyone around here, in one way or another.

However, I know that for some families who were directly affected with the flood, the work has not even begun.  Many are still without power or not allowed to move back into their homes until they are deemed safe.  Those who have been allowed back in, were only allowed to do so for short amount of times and could only get what they could carry.  The mud, debris, mold, etc is everywhere and I think the clean up for some people is going to take months or years. 

Getting Cedar Rapids back is going to be a long long LONG process.