General Discussion

I'm here in the middle of this disaster.

Many asking how and why did this happen.
My answer, basically people didn't respect the flood plain! There's more to it but that's a huge part.

They built where it wasn't safe near rivers and streams, built developments on fields and slopes that channel water to it or thru it. They built one bridge instead of 2 or 3.

Interstate observation...the bridges of Madison county...I was there last week and the river had several bridges across and roads along the river. River flooded roads waters receded roads cleared one big bridge out but several smaller bridges along the road allowed people to cross after flood waters receed. I did see a foundry right on the river that was essentially demolished.

A friend owned the Grail movie house in the River Arts District. Wearhouses used to be there. When flooded, only stuff would get destroyed, but put businesses and homes near a river you're taking a chance. Her business is totally destroyed but her home is safe because she didn't live in a flood zone just had her business in one.
My heart goes out to her but even she knew not to live near there.

Years ago, farmland near a stream, house on high ground, field floods, crops lost but not many homes or lives. Sell farm developer puts houses near the streams, nice street leading to the road houses flood roads flood, water rushes to places that never flooded before

One reason I left NYC, its by the coast and will flood eventually. My home here higher than the creek nearby, and further away. Homes near any water are in a flood plain.

Even now a development is planned on an area that has never been built on because it's a flood plain, but they will put it up and it will flood. Another development was built less than a mile away by that stream and it always floods
Now mostly businesses there people won't live there except some unsuspecting folks and realtors mostly just want to sell homes and properties.

That's my observation and opinion. FWIW