Flood 2009

We made history here in Georgia last week! We experienced the worst flooding that Georgia has had in 100 years. For about eight days it just rained and rained and rained. The creeks and rivers were filled to capacity and began to breach their banks. Some counties experienced severe damage: homes under water, people dieing in creeks, no electricity, roads washed out, basements flooded, freeways closed. It was just craziness!

Last Monday I took the boys to seminary. They called me around 7:10 to say that school had been delayed by 90 minutes. I picked them up and we gathered around the TV to watch the news. I had no idea how bad the flooding had gotten during the night. The rain never really stopped throughout the day and night before. One news station announced a 90 minute delay of school and another one announced a 2 hour delay. I checked the school website and it posted a 90 minute delay. As the time arrived for the high school to start we loaded into the Expedition and headed off to the school. It was just buzzing with activity. When we reached the drop off driveway there was a teacher standing under a large umbrella telling people that school was officially canceled for the day. What? Who has ever heard of a rain day? The boys were elated, but sad that they hadn't been able to sleep in.

Landon had gone to a friends' home Monday afternoon to hang out. As I went to pick him up around 5:30 pm the water in the creek in our neighborhood had risen and was just coming over the road. I plowed through in the truck, knowing that I must go get my son! By the time we arrived back home the river had turned into a large lake and the water was just rushing through the street. There was no way I could get through! We decided to turn around and park in the vacant, unfinished neighborhood located directly behind our home. We trudged through our wet, muddy backyard. Many neighbors were forced to do the same thing so they could get home after work. Later in the evening, around 10pm the waters had gone down and we were able to pick up the truck and drive through the neighborhood. It was a crazy, neighbor-bonding event.

The news that evening announced the schools being closed again for the next day. Wow. Tuesday morning the roads were still very bad in Georgia with more flooding and road closings. We were fine in our neck of the woods because our home is on a hill. I did have friends who had flooded basements because there was just so much water. Yesterday (Sunday) the Stake sent a huge crew of men to work in some of the worst hit flood areas. They helped removed debris and cleanup. They were spotlighted on the evening news. There is still so much to be done to help these people that were hit so hard last week. I am grateful that we were protected on our end and that our home was safe.

Easton had a great time walking through the knee-high water. This was the shallow part!
The lighter colored water was moving very swiftly.

What an event to remember.