After the waters recede...

SKY WATCH FRIDAY time! Welcome all sky fans!!! I might not have time to respond to you, but I will try my best to visit!!!

Our hosts: Klaus Sandy Ivar Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Thanks, also,to Dot and Tom, who were instrumental in the success of this blogging event. You should definitely come fly with us! Today, I want to post a sky picture that makes me feel hopeful, in honor of those impacted by the recent flooding in Georgia (and Tennessee). I know I just posted this experience a month ago, but it is my favorite rainbow shot, and rainbows are a symbol God's covenant with us. They bring me peace and hope. I hope that this does the same for you!

Speaking of the hope after the flood, I need to hop on my soapbox... As I listened to TWC this morning, it disgusted me that the focus was on the fact that despite the deadly, tragic, historic and devasting flood, which stole lives, destroyed homes, shut down schools, blocked passage for people getting to work, family... hospitals... which they did touch on while they showed the human-side, the heart-felt sobs of people grieving their losses... the focus this morning was not on that... but instead, where was Mike Slidell with his report... at a PGA golf course! So many people in the Atlanta area have had their lives completely turned upside down. Homes are vacated, not to be habitable for potentially months. Schools have been ruined, kids have nowhere to get their education. Their lives and those of their parents, families, friends, neighbors have been put on hold, while everyone finds the strength to recover from this... but by golly, Tiger Woods will still get to play for his $10,000,000. The PGA tour will continue on schedule. As a nation, it seems that our priorities are completely out of whack. Important documents, valuable school supplies, treasured school resources bought with pennies pinched together in days of furloughed teachers salaries (don't even get me started!!!)... are floating out the doors, but they sure did make it a priority to get that course out from under water. It makes me sick! Anyone else struggling with that???

Speaking of sick, with my child being sick today and my wonderful groom's dear parents' willingness to keep her while I work, I was allowed the opportunity to once again pass through their neighborhood, which, as you'll recall, was struck with major flooding back in April, that's right, more than 5 months, almost 6 months ago. Remember? Unfortunately, they are scenes mimicking the scene up in the Altanta metro area this week... Sadly, here, it appears that about every 3rd house still is uninhabited. Of those homes that have been moved into, contractors are still parked in their front yards, which contains dry-rotted grass, shrubbery removed, dangerous trees still being removed, dumpsters and porta-potties still littering the lawns, shutters starting to fall apart, as a delayed consequential reminder, as if they needed one... their process of recovery, still, almost 6 months later, continues. Yes, my heart goes out to the areas stricken by flood. It's devastating, destructive... and the recovery is slow and hard.

Important Flood Safety Guidelines you should know...

More deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other thunderstorm or hurricane related hazard. Many of these casualties are a result of careless or unsuspecting motorists who attempt to navigate flooded roads. The National Weather
Service now warns anyone who comes to a flooded roadway, “Turn around… don’t drown!™”
Follow these safety rules:
 If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Stay away from flood-prone areas, including dips, low spots, valleys, ditches, washes, etc.
 Avoid flooded areas or those with rapid water flow. Do not attempt to cross a flowing stream. It takes only six inches of fast flowing water to sweep you off your feet.
 Don’t allow children to play near high water, storm drains or ditches. Hidden dangers could lie beneath the water.
 Flooded roads could have significant damage hidden by floodwaters. NEVER drive through floodwaters or on flooded roads. If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Water only two feet deep can float away most automobiles.
 Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly when threatening conditions exist.
 Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
 Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for vital weather related information.

Atlanta flooding image (source):
God be with them.
~Dewdrop

Continued coverage of the historic Atlanta flood

<
Scenes such as this are popping up everywhere. The above video contains some aerial video of Six Flags over Georgia under water, from the record flooding in the Metro Atlanta area. Images I watched this morning on the Weather Channel showed portions of the well known wooden Scream Machine destroyed in parts, yet, according to reports, Six Flags plans to be open this weekend. Bring your nose plugs... It is sad what has happened to Six Flags, but that doesn't compare to the personal tragedy experienced all over the Metro Atlanta area.

Unfortunately, with some areas experiencing over 20" of rain in as little as 3 days, the saturated ground, creeks, streams and rivers were bound to overflow, and the result has been nothing short of devastating. So far, the lives lost in this historic flood event stand at 9, with many of those being caused by people driving into flood waters, which easily carry cars away when in a foot or more of water. Turn Around, Don't Drown™. It looks like the relief in rain yesterday has allowed some of the flood water to recede, but you can expect that as it moves down the river... and the forecast holds true that further problems will occur downstream. In fact, you see the impact of that as you move down the rivers. You see that the flood warnings move down the state in this graphical forecast. List of River Crests
Report from Weather Service about September 2009 flooding rain event
Maps of the current flood in Georgia and the forecast This last link takes you to the Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service maps, which show two very depictive maps, one indicating the current flooding in Georgia and the other demonstrating the forecast flooding. You see clearly that the flood threat moves down the state as currently flood stricken areas' flood waters recede.

See a story about the flooding by Michael Detwiler - Nashville Weather Examiner

A friend of mine, well east of Atlanta in the Rockdale/Newton County area posted some pictures of the flooding out there that she offered permission to share.The first two are at the Porterdale Lofts. The 3rd is at the Horse Park on the backside and the last one is a house off of Brown Bridge Road past Newton Co. High School.








Thanks, Michelle!

Reports are that some places in the Atlanta area have water up to their 2nd story... it's grim in places. Reports are widespread, and the recovery effort will be long and arduous. Locally, we know all too well how long-lasting the effects of flooding are, having just experienced a major flood back in April. God be with them.

~Dewdrop