Joaquin Walks, Floods Reign

Dear Maria,

Has ever half an inch of rain in the gauge looked so puny? Yes, more rain this weekend—even flash flooding warnings in some of the worst of the flooded areas in the Midlands. Here, not so much. Mercifully.

Thanks for checking on me. Once again I was in the right spot during a very trying time, and of course it is not nearly finished for so many. People displaced, pets displaced, buildings displaced, roads and bridges displaced. A billion dollar disaster, and no hurricane.

When the first track predictions were made, I dutifully filled up the truck and bought enough water and food to last Max and me five days.  While I was getting gas, a very pregnant woman—like at any moment—was filling up her car as she drank a sports drink. I could only think of a recent ad campaign and that those featured athletes should be kneeling around her, chanting “We are not worthy”.

Then the rain predictions—well, really didn’t register to be honest. Turned out to be spot on in terms of amounts, but only the lower reaches along the back of the neighborhood saw homes flooded. Maybe a dozen or so. Total for the main event here was 21.75” of rain, but the Wednesday before we had a late afternoon downpour that put 1.5” in the gauge, and then another 2” before the crush of water came.

The japonicas and tea olives are grown a foot this week, and the roses, which were already spiking upward, and the lanatana are blooming wildly. Heavily watered, and the fall growth spurt. 

A thousand-year flood, they say. How many times did we hear long-time residents say over and over that they had never seen anything like it—flooding where never before.  No doubt some folks will never return to their homes. If they can.

People did what they could for each other. And then they did even more. How often—paradoxically—we must be thrashed to come together.

I read that the remnants of Joaquin rained on Spain and Portugal this weekend. Just now realized as I look at the bird feeder that I haven’t of late seen any small birds. Crows, yes, and I hear the hawk from time to time.

As Max and I came around the final turn for home this morning, I realized that this last dose of rain changed the landscape yet again. Yards and street littered with yellow leaves. Snow is forecast for the upper sections of the Northeast at the end of the week. I would prefer not to think what the 1 in 1000 winter event would be here.

Hope all is well for you and your family. Here’s to clearer skies ahead. For a long time.

Yours,

srk