Inundated is one of my favorite words. I use it a lot. I find that I'm often inundated with emails, tasks, projects, phone calls, and more. But this summer it's taking on a whole new meaning for me. In fact, it's quite literal.
My family back home in Sioux City is quite literally inundated. The Mighty Missouri is wreaking havoc and flooding its river bed. My sister Ellen's neighborhood was one of the first to be flooded earlier this month. She moved everything out Memorial Day weekend (and by everything, I mean EVERYTHING to include appliances). She has been overwhelmed by the blessings and generosity of neighbors and volunteers who helped move, pack, transport and store their belongings and house them.
The levels of flooding seen this summer go well beyond the 100 year flood plains. They're calling this the 500 year level.
Ellen was allowed to go see her house yesterday with the National Guard escort. She said that there's 4 feet of black, murky water in the basement and visible fish swimming in her backyard. The water is expected to be there all summer.
You can see more about the midwest flooding at my hometown newspaper - The Sioux City Journal. Please keep my sister's family - and all the victims of this disaster in your thoughts and prayers.
The cute side of this tragedy is that the kids aren't playing cops and robbers these days. Now it's all about sandbagging, Corps of Engineers, National Guard and the Sheriff.
They've even been overheard saying "No - you can't come in here. It's evacuated due to the flood."
Ahhh, it's an experience they'll never, ever forget. The great flood of 2011.
