first the flooding

Wow! Columbus flooded last weekend - and it got us! I'll look for some pics, but it was just astounding. Many, Many people lost everything, and these were home not in flood plains - thus - no flood insurance. You know it's bad when there is a FEMA assistance center set up in your town!

We sat on our just completed deck and watched the water all Saturday evening. By 3:30 am Tim and I were walking down the street to check the levels on a stop sign, and having the "well, do we stay or do we go?" conversation. Never thought that would happen. We stayed and by morning, the water was in our yard, it got into the barn some and we had at least 3 feet in the basement. Had to unplug the freezer and fridge down there. By Sunday evening, the fridge had tipped over in the water and was floating on its' back - seriously spooky looking! At least the freezer and fridge were mostly empty due to losing everything in both of them and cleaning them out only a week before. Only the hamburgers for the church picnic that was to happen Sunday were in the freezer, all 120 of them ;) I'll get to dispose of rotten hamburger , ugh! But at least it's not CHICKEN, ask me how I know which is worse ;)

Now it is 10 days later and we are still pumping a few inches out of the basement several times a day. The ground is so saturated that the pressure is forcing water into the basement. Until the water table drops this will be a problem (translation: please God, no more rain!) We have to replace the water heater for sure, most likely the furnace too. Tim hauled off two truckloads of drywall & debris.

We are just grateful it's not worse. As close as we live to the river, it certainly could have been. I've marked the flood line in Sharpie marker and it is officially worse than the last "big one" in 1913 - wow.