Monday, February 28, 2011

Flooding

The storms started late last evening with thunder, lightning and some heavy rains before I went to bed. It was a somewhat sleepless night. Seems the little white dog decided I was the best pillow she's ever had. If it wasn't cuddled up on my legs, it was cuddling right next to my head! Can't remember how many times I moved her and she came right back!

I got up at normal time and as I was walking to the kitchen to let the dogs out, my phone rang. I couldn't read the caller id because I didn't have my glasses on. I decided I better answer it. It was the HR director calling to tell me that Miller's was closed until 9:00. It seems the entrance to Commerce Drive at 25-A was flooded and the cops had it blocked off. I let the dogs out then we went back to bed for about 90 minutes. I turned the TV on the local station in case there was any further updates. No update so I went to work at 9:00.

After work I ran an errand and as I went down Blackhoof and Defiance St, I noticed the traffic was very heavy. Much more so than usual. Well, that happens when a main east/west street is closed due to flooding! After my errand, I came back to the corner of Defiance and Harrison to take pictures. Harrison St was closed on both sides of Defiance. People in the apartments by the river on the east side of Defiance were loading stuff into cars and trucks. The parking lot behind town was flooded as well.

After leaving there, I went down Auglaize St and pulled up in front of 512, the house where Mom grew up and Grandpa lived until he died 15 years ago. I knew that back yard would be flooded and I was right. I do believe it was worse than the summer of 1992. I took some pictures there also then drove over to Kelly Drive. As I waited to turn onto Kelly, I took a picture from Hamilton looking east towards downtown. Totally flooded park. I pulled over on Kelly and got out to take some pictures. You could just see a little ripple where the dam is underneath Hamilton Rd. The river was also very close to Kelly Drive. And, the cornfield along Kelly.... under water with it coming very close to Kelly across from the houses. I don't remember ever seeing it come quite that close to the road in that area!

Thankfully, I have no water in my basement and no debris in my yard.

But, Auglaize County made it to national news on the weather channel during the 8-9:00 hour tonight! Major flooding and evacuations in St Marys.

Just a few of the pictures I took....

That's looking down Harrison St towards the river.

Looking across the river to the houses along Auglaize St. Hard to tell where the banks are!

The backyard of the house my grandpa lived in for years on Auglaize St.

Looking east along the river from Hamilton Road

River almost to Kelly Drive

The dam under Hamilton Road.


The cornfield along Kelly Drive.

Hopefully, the weather forecast for the next few days will be right. Nice and calm and the flooding will go down.