This is definitely a must-see video. But first, here’s the back-story of how State Rep. Mike Turner, the Democratic Caucus Chair in the Tennessee State House, found himself wading through neck-deep floodwaters to rescue individuals stranded in the flood:

A resolution honoring Turner, a local fire captain, was read Wednesday on the House floor.

Before the resolution was read, footage from a local television station showed Turner in water up to his neck using an inflatable air mattress to rescue people stuck in a flooding apartment complex in east Nashville.

That video is from the local WZTV news station in Nashville – Rep. Turner is the first man shown ferrying people through the water:

Congratulations to Rep. Turner for the State House resolution honoring his bravery, and thank you, Rep. Turner, for all your service to the people of Tennessee – in the legislature and, in this case, in the middle of the devastating flooding.

For the second time in less than two months, floodwaters have altered the plans of a state legislative body. Weeks after overflowing rivers wrought havoc in North Dakota, heavy rains in central Alabama have stranded legislators around Montgomery and flooded basement offices in the state capitol building.

Democratic leaders, however, were determined not to let a little water distract them from the people’s business:

House Majority Leader Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, said he saw a wall collapse near his office in the basement, which was flooded with some 4 feet of water. The Democratic caucus also has offices in the basement and had to move computers and other items out.

Without lights or working elevators, House and Senate officials decided to recess and move to the Capitol, which sits on a hill across the street and wasn’t affected.

After Thursday, there are only two working days left in the 2009 regular session. If the House and Senate had to cancel Thursday’s session, it would have killed bills that needed action to pass before the final day of May 15.

Thankfully, as of yesterday there have been no serious injuries reported from the flooding.

A Monday afternoon joint session of the North Dakota legislature helped put the flood crisis in that state in stark relief. While most lawmakers heard an update from North Dakota’s National Guard Commander, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, some members of the State House and Senate remained in Fargo, desperate to defend their homes from the high waters threatening North Dakota’s largest city.

Due to blizzard conditions that have enveloped the capitol, the legislature is not expected to decide until Wednesday morning whether it will convene for the day. During today’s session, Sprynczynatyk described the extent of his agency’s $40 million response to the flooding:

During his briefing to lawmakers, Sprynczynatyk said 2,400 National Guard members are helping to fight rising floodwaters in North Dakota, the largest task force ever assembled in the state. He called the flooding "epic in nature."

He said Guard members are strategically stationed throughout Fargo and the surrounding areas in case of an emergency.

National Guard members also are protecting the man-made dikes that have been erected throughout Fargo. One person was arrested over the weekend when authorities found the person stealing sandbags off a dike.

"You have to deal with the human element, as well," Sprynczynatyk said.

The thoughts and prayers of all of us at the DLCC are with the people of North Dakota in this trying time.

Nathan Thomas is a researcher and communications assistant for the DLCC.