If they really want us to stay away from the river then how come when i was walking around tonight that i walk by the cops they never said anything. Also this might actually help the downtown area for i felt like i was in a big city walking down main st. Hundreds of people. I saw places i never seen before and when you drive you dont have time to look. I might actually go back down there now once the floods gone and spend some money downtown.

Atleast today lookers offered to help and they were happily put to work. Everyone appreciates it. It may be wet but it is still a home. It is very dangerous when the driver in front of you slams on there breaks and comes to a complete stop to look at the water.

Hannah,
These people are in need of help, not remarks like you posted, someday this or something bad may happen to you and you can read comments about you as well, show some compassion and do what you can to help these in need, maybe take some food or water to these people, or better yet fill some bags or help place them for about 4 or 5 hours then you could make yourself useful. i have spent a whole day helping and i feel good about myself.

hannah:

But here's the thing you wrote "you bought a house by/on a river not us". do you know the word "schadenfreude"? I would guess not since you don't know how to spell gawk -- but it means taking pleasure in the suffering of others. You sound like you are gloating, like you are congratulating yourself at the expense of others. My elderly parents are flooded. They have never ccme near being flooded before (in 1993 it wasn't even a remote possibility), nor have they ever heard of a previous owner of their home ever having been. But you suggest they not only should have seen it coming, but seem to imply deserve it. Like I said, you might as well say that towns hit by tornados should have seen it coming. Then you say , :Would you rather they stay at 35mph and be looking somewhere else"? Why is that an option. Why wouldn't it be that she would rather they drive at 35mph and be looking at the road?

I think the key point is that common courtesy should not be forgotten. Don't "gawk" and make someone trying to save their house feel like they're under scrutiny. Offer to help if you can. And definitely get out of the way of anyone needing to get through to deliver equipment or remove belongings. In fact, that's a good sign you shouldn't be there.
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That doesn't mean people can't look at things for themselves from a public way and from a safe distance. There's no shortage of opportunities to do that without causing traffic tie-ups or embarrassing people.

I am one of the "take a look" people. I did it last night. But there is a difference between that and qawking. Humans' general nature is to be curious about these types of things... tragedy or not, we want to see what's going on. The difference between gawking/rubbernecking and "taking a look" is that the gawkers can potentially cause more problems because they only seem to see the accident/problem at hand and are usually unaware of their surroundings. The "take a lookers" can watch from a safe distance and make sure that they are not a hinder to recovery efforts. Hopefully, the volunteers and paid workers trying to help our communities know that they are appreciated, with or without "gawkers"

I think that you all are being too harsh on Hannah. If you buy a house on the river or live in the counrty, (as I do), you know that these things can happen. That doesn't mean that it isn't a tragic situation.

I hate to break it to Steve Sheiffer but the Rock River has never been pretty. Actually its pretty disgusting....

hannah:
wow you really sound unhappy and jealous of people who live near water -- even the ones who don't have the views you seem to covet and are also in danger of losing a lot. Do you think it's cool to talk tough about people who should have seen this coming? But why should they expect it, when it has never happened before. The levels the rivers are at are historic. Do you also write in about how it is your right to gawk (or "gauk" as you say) at communities hit by tornados? After all they know tornados hit in the midwest, right? Get a little perspective and stop being so petty and ugly.

Actually Hannah, it is your comment that is not only harsh but despicable. This article suggests people stay away from the river for safety and the comment bellow suggests that gawking is impeding the process of sandbagging, which is a back breaking and arduous task without spectators getting in the way. If you don't want to help the community effort, stay away. Clearly by your comment about flood victims that now "have their river view" you know nothing of compassion. I can only hope that should you ever be in need, you will begin to understand the concept.

Hannah- You are probaly one of those that would like to see "the mangled body" at the the Accident scene !!??, It is people like you that make "Recovery efforts" or "Saving Efforts" harder .. People have a lot at stake during times like this, So what if they bought a house or land near the river/lake/pond... They still want to save what they have with out being hindered by "Idiots" that would not let them get to their properties... Houw would you like if your family is trapped some where and you could not get to them because I Was stopped in front of you (by the only way to get to them)??? I only would go 5 mph in a 35 zone????
Think before you POST>>> and have some compassion for others....

Yeah all you gawkers should stay away. It is ridiculous that when you are trying to get to your house with supplies to sandbag you are stuck behind people doing 10 mph in a 35 mph zone because they are looking. Or while you are sandbagging people just stop and drool, why don't you get out and help if you want to drive past. There is nothing fun about a flooded home stay at your dry home.