OTTUMWA — There was no rhyme or reason to the waters that are still more than a foot above flood stage.

Damage is the only constant, but it varies considerably from one structure to another. Some sheds floated hundreds of yards, stopping only when they struck trees. Others, apparently lighter and more mobile, stayed put.

One resident pointed out scrapes near the top of his carport. Flood debris hit with enough force to strip away the paint. But a light bulb hanging from the carport’s ceiling fan was undamaged, spared by the whim of the water.

Even the ground is different, depending on what the water carried out of the river’s banks. Along Rabbit Run Road, the ground is covered in sand a couple inches deep. Ripples mark the water’s currents.

Mud is more common on 155th Avenue near Rock Bluff Road. Wayne Rupe said it arrived when the river crested a second time a week ago. The first crest was 12 feet deep, he said, but you could see down 6 or 8 feet. The water was clear.

Rupe could only see about 6 inches down when the river came up again. It was almost as much mud as river. And things dried out slowly.

“Yesterday and today have been the only days dry enough that I can do anything yet,” he said Wednesday.

Rupe used a tractor to help even out the ground where he usually has his trailer. It’s not there; he got out before the flood arrived. But he wants to come back.

The challenge right now is just getting the ground back to where it needs to be. The currents scoured out large ruts, some more than a foot deep. Rupe got an offer for him to use the tractor if he paid for the diesel for the engine, and he jumped on it.

Rupe was working less than a half mile from one of the sites county supervisors planned for a Dumpster to hold flood debris. He wasn’t holding his breath for the Dumpster, but hoped the promise of arrival would hold true.

“I’ve got a whole lot of stuff over there that needs to be thrown away,” he said. “It’ll help a lot if we can get one down here.”

Not many people were clearing off their land near Rupe. A few more were at work off Rabbit Run Road, near where another Dumpster is going in. The water didn’t get as high in those homes, but it still did a lot of damage.

Dick Damm said he’ll have to tear down and rebuild.

“It’s toast. I’ll get rid of it,” he said, gesturing to his home.

Damm already received a green light from his insurance to rebuild. He’s just waiting on county, state, and federal authorities to get going. The septic system is his main concern.