Flooding and the leftovers

Well, rain poured down in the Atlanta area yesterday causing the flash flooding that everyone feared, falling on already saturated ground, causing the rivers and creeks to crest above flood stage. Unfortunately, that is just an appetizer. Another dose of flooding rain is rolling in tomorrow, which will put much of north Georgia under water. Now, that area of storms over on the west coast... guess what that is... It's the system formerly known as Super Typhoon Melor. That's right, the remnants of Melor have tracked all the way across the Pacific Ocean and have decided to pummel the west coast of the US with flooding rain. That area is preparing for mudslides. As if they didn't have their share of natural disaster with all the wild fires they endured over the summer.

We've had dreary skies and rain/drizzle in my neck of the woods, which seems to be taking its toll on people, that and the sticky humidity... I think we are ready for some colorful fall-like weather!

Have a superb day!!
~Dewdrop

Cooking up a storm, literally...

Well, with no weather brewing in my neck of the woods, my wonderful groom and I opted to cook up a storm in the kitchen. It was really a wonderfully relaxing weekend. We had so much fun together, but it all started with our own rendition of "Chopped". If you don't happen to watch that show, it's similar to many of the elimination reality shows out there today, except on this one, there are only 4 contestants. They are given mystery ingredients (usually off the wall and unrelated) and asked to prepare an appetizer. The chef of the least liked appetizer is eliminated and the remaining chefs prepare an entree and a dessert through the same pattern, until a single winner remains and is awarded $10,000. Nice, huh? Well, for us, that show is appointment TV. When we see the ingredients, I will often ask my wonderful groom what he would make. I don't know what it is about the show, but we love it. Well, on Friday, I picked up a few ingredient choices of my own, and he was challenged with preparing our 3 courses from those.

So, what was on the secret ingredient list???
Appetizer: Puff Pastry, Avocado, Artichoke Hearts and Ginger Root.

I would describe his avocado-artichoke pâté w/ balsamic braised ginger puff pastry towers as... scrumdiddlyuptious! Even the presentation was pretty cool. He was so cute whipping up stuff in the kitchen. Where I thrive around weather, he thrives in the kitchen. I love all the passion he has for creating in the kitchen, especially since I am not a huge fan of cooking.

After we devoured that yumminess, I presented the next round of mystery ingredients, which were still a secret to him.

Entree Ingredients: Skinless Chicken Breast, Turmeric (which stains the counter horribly, but it's nothing bleach can't handle), Chanterelle Mushrooms, and Banana Chips. :D He knocked it out of the ball park!! Yummy! You see those banana chips rehydrating...? Drowning their sorrows more like... He added apple jelly to make a wonderfully flavored jelly to eat with the chicken.
In the end, he had created drunken chanterelle chicken rolls with tipsy banana puree'. Yes, we were getting a little silly after this round. The chanterelles had bathed in a pool of whiskey, while the banana chips rehydrated with some vodka. The flavors though... yummy, yummy.

Then, the final round was dessert, where I brought out Pomegranate, Ricotta Cheese, Pepperidge Farm Milanoes, and a Milky Way. Seriously, how can you go wrong melting heavy cream and milky way together??? My theory on life, "You can never go wrong with a Milky Way." So the Milky Way melt was just a covering for the yummy Kahlua Milano brownie. The bits of Milano added bursts of explosive yum throughout the dessert:

Milano Way brownie and pomegranate cream... for mature tastes... It may not have been the most appetizing looking dessert, but oh my!!! Ta da!

Of course, I mentioned cooking up a storm, I somehow missed capturing the tornado that blasted through our kitchen... He sure is excellent chef, but he can also wreak havoc in a kitchen.



I know you're not here to hear about our kitchen escapades, so let me share this... Tropical Storm Parma (remember that one? The storm that has killed 600 or so, so far in the Philippines) has made its 3rd landfall, this time in China. It is devastating the impact that Parma (the storm that wouldn't end) has had on that region. Fortunately, Parma should be downgraded before making landfall again.

In addition to that, back in the states, while the higher elevations are battling snow storms and ice on the roads, here in the south where we are battling humid and warm weather, the Atlanta area is being pummeled once again with gobs of rain, causing flash flooding and reigniting the fears of those who have just endured serious flooding in that region. After years of drought... they are now dealing with a scary surplus that is literally washing them away. Unfortunately, what they are experiencing today is nothing compared to what's in the forecast. Turn Around, Don't Drown.™

Apparently, the storm brewing at our house, brewed up a little something-something.3:00PM radar.

AREAS AFFECTED...PARTS OF S CNTRL GA INTO EXTREME SRN SOUTH CAROLINA

CONCERNING...SEVERE POTENTIAL...WATCH UNLIKELY

SEVERAL LOW AMPLITUDE MID-LEVEL WAVES ARE APPARENT WITHIN THE WEST SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ON THE NORTHERN FRINGE OF SUBTROPICAL RIDGING CENTERED OVER THE FLORIDA PENINSULA. PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE MAY BE CURRENTLY ACCELERATING EASTWARD THROUGH THE CAROLINAS. IN ITS WAKE...A SURFACE COLD FRONT HAS BEEN ADVANCING SOUTHWARD THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA AND SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA...UNDERCUTTING DISCRETE CONVECTIVE CELLS FORMING IN THE WARM AND VERY MOIST TO ITS SOUTH...AND AHEAD OF THE NEXT MID-LEVEL WAVE. WHILE THE PRE-FRONTAL BOUNDARY LAYER AIR MASS IS CHARACTERIZED BY WEAK TO MODERATE POTENTIAL INSTABILITY... LOW-LEVEL FLOW FIELDS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT HAVE BEEN SLOWLY WEAKENING...CONFINING STRONG LOW-LEVEL SHEAR TO AREAS IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND TO THE NORTH OF THE FRONT. GIVEN THE STABILITY OF THE POST-FRONTAL BOUNDARY LAYER...ANY RISK FOR TORNADOES SEEMS CONFINED
TO THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE FRONT...AND LIKELY SHORT-LIVED...WITH THE POSSIBLE LOW PROBABILITY EXCEPTION OF ANY CELL ABLE TO PROPAGATE ALONG IT FOR A SUSTAINED TIME PERIOD. OTHERWISE...LOCALIZED STRONG WIND GUSTS AND PERHAPS SOME HAIL SEEM
TO THE BE PRIMARY SEVERE THREATS SOUTH/EAST OF MACON INTO THE SAVANNAH AREA THROUGH 22-23Z.

Have a great day!
~Dewdrop

Epic flood called 500 Year Flood

The flooding in Georgia that took place this week is now being referred to as an epic 500-Year-Flood.

At least 10 deaths in Georgia and Alabama were blamed on the torrential downpours in the Southeast. The storms finally relented and relief was in sight with just a slight chance of rain Wednesday, but the onslaught left many parts of the region in stagnant water.

The latest victim, Richard Butler, 29, drowned after his car was apparently washed off a road near a creek Tuesday night in suburban Douglas County, west of Atlanta, county spokesman Wes Tallon said.

~source

According to the USGS website...

The flooding around Atlanta this week is one for the record books. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the rivers and streams had magnitudes so great that the odds of it happening were less than 0.2 percent in any given year. In other words, there was less than a 1 in 500 chance that parts of Cobb and Douglas counties were going to be hit with such an event.

“The USGS can reliably say just how bad these floods were. They were epic!” said Brian McCallum, Assistant Director for the USGS Water Science Center in Georgia. “We have all witnessed the devastation caused by these floods, but now we can quantify it.” The data are gathered from the USGS real-time streamgaging network.

On Sept. 22, USGS crews measured the greatest flow ever recorded (28,000 cubic feet per second) on Sweetwater Creek near Austell, Ga.

Elsewhere in the Atlanta area:

The Yellow River streamgages in Gwinnett, DeKalb and Rockdale counties measured flows between the 1 percent chance (100-year) and 0.5 percent chance (200-year) flood magnitude.
Flows caused by the rain at Peachtree Creek in Atlanta were only near the 10 percent chance (10-year) flood magnitude, but the backwater effects from the Chattahoochee River pushed water levels over the 0.2 percent chance (500-year) flood at the gage location.
On the Chattahoochee, USGS measured a 1 percent chance exceedence (100-year) flood at Vinings and Roswell.


~source

Allow me now to just share with you some of the shocking photos that have come out of the flood-stricken areas... it's hard to imagine going through something like this... such a long road lies ahead for some of these people!
From left: Garrett Jacobs, Dakota Nelson, and Levi Wright move a barricade to higher ground after flood waters from the Yellow River continued to rise Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 in Lilburn. Ga. The community canceled their beach bash, which was scheduled for Monday night. (AP Photo/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Curtis Compton)
From left, Allen Rice, Zach Shirley, Jacob Shirley, and Danny Shirley remove two mattresses from their home in East Ridge, Tenn., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Heavy rainfall caused water from area creeks to flood areas throughout Chattanooga and northern Georgia areas. (AP Photo/Chattanooga Times Free Press, Patrick Smith)

The roof of an auto shop is barely visible above swollen Sweetwater Creek after heavy rains of recent days caused the creek to flood, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, in Austell, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)
An unidentified man looks back at tractor trailer cars washed against a bridge going over Sweetwater Creek left there by flood waters from recent rains, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in Austell, Ga.(AP Photo/John Amis)
A submerged truck is shown in flood waters in Mableton, Ga., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Heavy rains caused flooding in and around the Atlanta area. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Grounds crew including Michael Watts, Jr., second from left, work at cleaning up mud and debris at the foot of the Ninja roller coaster, left by flood waters that inundated Six Flags over Georgia amusement park, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Mud encased bicycles lay strewn in front of a house in Lilburn after flood waters from the Yellow River receded from it, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, in Austell, Ga. A newly built deck on the back of the house was nowhere to be found. (AP Photo/John Amis)


Have a blessed weekend!
~Dewdrop

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

Devastating floods ravage Metro Atlanta--Flooding deaths in Atlanta area

This picture shows flooding at Dog Creek at Hwy 5, Douglas County, Georgia on September 21, 2009. The deck holds the USGS automated water-monitoring and transmission equipment that allows for real-time display of current stream conditions on our Web pages.
~source

Unfortunately, the story today in weather is not a good one at all. With days of rain, starting with the rain when I was trying to travel back to Georgia on Wednesday, the Atlanta Metro area and surrounding areas have been inundated with anywhere from 5-20" of rain. With some areas receiving 20" of rainfall during a period of only 36 hours, it spells out widespread flooding and mudslides. Sadly many water rescues have occurred, and already 5 7 (the number has risen since I started blogging--link) are reported dead and several people are unaccounted for and considered missing.

It has not been confirmed, however, that the body found Tuesday is one of two missing teenage boys who attempted to rescue a trapped motorist and were swept away. One of the teens was rescued. Four deaths occurred in Douglas County, with Gwinnett and Carroll also reporting fatalities. A 2-year-old died in Carroll County after heavy rain washed his family's trailer away. Carroll County Sheriff Terry E. Langley confirmed that Preston Slade Crawford's body was found Monday afternoon about a mile from his home, in some debris near the road.
~source

It's a tragic situation of loss and suffering. Schools are closed because of road closures (over 100 roads in the Atlanta Metro area, including parts of I75 and I285).

Current listing of road closures
List of smaller roads closed

Evacuations have taken place. Homes have been overtaken by water. It's a grim situation, and since we experienced it locally in April, and are still recovering... many folks here know all too well what lies ahead for residents of Metro Atlanta.

Link to flooding map in Georgia
Flood and High Flow map

Two men and two women died in Douglas County in separate incidents, officials said.

In each case, Douglas Sheriff Phil Miller said the driver was trying to cross flooded roadways.
~source

Turn Around, Don't Drown™ is the best advice I could possibly offer anyone in that area. With all area creeks and streams risen to major flood levels, roads and bridges have been compromised... what you might think you're seeing as water over the road could very easily (and scarily likely be) water INSTEAD OF the road. In the picture below, water had risen above the road level, meaning at one point... it looks like water over the bridge, when in fact, there was no bridge there at all. Don't risk it people, TURN AROUND!!!

John Spink, AJC -- A section of Post Road washed away about a mile south of I-20 in Winston.

God be with those impacted, and I sure hope it doesn't result in flooding here...
~Dewdrop