This is one Mean Old Lady!

This is one Mean Old Lady!
Self-portrait: 'Quilter on Fire'

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Flood

Major storms beginning April 15th have battered Arkansas (and much of the Southern tier of states.)  Heavy rains have saturated the ground and then, as they continued, created serious flooding which continues to increase statewide as creeks, rivers, and lakes reach record levels.  Lake Conway, where we have a little getaway home, has risen to unheard of levels; our neighbors, who have lived on the lake for 33 years, have never seen anything like this.

 The view from the sunroom is pretty wet.  This part of the house is the lowest, and the high water line is at 18".

 The propane tank was afloat, breaking a connector and leaking; the fire department came out and turned it off.  We will have the LP provider take the tank away, since the propane heater was ruined.  An electric replacement will be simpler.


In the foreground is a huge snag that washed in where our fencing was being repaired on one side of the property.




 Our neighbor's equipment shed--pretty much everything in it is toast. 




Below, our shed was a pretty big mess inside, but we have hope that the miter saw and chain saw will survive. 

 Big snag!  Definitely hope the chain saw has survived its dunking.  (It was up a big higher on something heavy that didn't float and turn over.)





The worst thing about a flood is the stench.  The water is contaminated by a multitude of substances.  

We are relatively fortunate.  Although we didn't have flood insurance (we're on slightly higher ground and had never had water into the house) we can afford the repair and replacement costs (though we'll wince).  This is not our primary residence, either, and we've gotten off relatively lightly, considering that only a few things were completely ruined--none of it irreplaceable.  Families of Canada geese are enjoying swimming through the yard, which is still deep under water. 

7 comments:

  1. What a mess — I admire the calmness with which you’re facing it. Here’s to better weather.

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  2. Great pictures. I don't envy the clean up you are facing though. And, of course, I'm still sulking because it's made you cancel your trip here.

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  3. I think your "Storm hits the garden" piece is emblematic! So sorry....

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  4. Oh, wow. I am so sorry. I hope the cleanup process is as easy and painless as it can possibly be. Fingers crossed for your chainsaw and mitre saw! (Not to mention the people who live in the area.)

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  5. Well, we are both sore all over. Possibly all of this unaccustomed exercise is good for us? I'm popping ibuprofen. Today a guy is going to pull the carpeting, which has to be discarded. Then it will be easier to get things dried out. The water has receded by a couple of inches each day; humidity is low; and it's been sunny but not very hot (helping to keep the mold/mildew at bay.) There is this great product at Lowe's called Krud Kutter.....

    'Storm Hits the Garden' was done in '08, and it did seem to fit the theme...

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  6. I admire your fortitude in that appalling mess and hope it cleans up soon. Here in NYC we have experienced similar issues in hurricane season, and so can identify. The Rockaway peninsula south of Jamaica Bay in Queens where I grew up disappeared in 9/1960 when the eye of a hurricane crossed Montauk Point. I hung around long enough to help my parents clean up, then took off for graduate school. My thoughts are with you.

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Rose 'Crepuscular'

Asparagus bed--post harvest

Lake Conway Mutti und Kinder