Just a quick update on my flood sitch. Last night I went down to the dock and checked the water level. The top of the dock is normally about 10"-12" above the water. Last night it was completely submerged by about 2". This afternoon, P took off work early to get supplies and come home to move furniture, etc up to the second floor. We took a tape measure out to see how high it would need to get to start flooding the pool room (pun not intended), which lies about 8" below the main area of the first floor. The water had risen to cover the bottom two steps down to the dock. That's at least another 8"-10" above last night. It looks like we have about 8' of rise before the water can enter the house proper. This is what is currently expected from the cresting of the River, which the Lake is a part of now that the spillway into the Reservoir has been topped. Hopefully, the large extra area of the Lake will help mitigate some of that cresting, both for us and for people downstream. I was watching Channel 9 (KCRG) this afternoon before heading to work, and the devastation in Cedar Rapids is "awesome," as one reporter said and quickly retracted. I immediately said, no, it is awesome in the original sense of the word. Inspiring awe, not necessarily being a good thing, accurately describes the flooding just north of us, and the worst part is that the crest hasn't hit yet. It's expected sometime tomorrow afternoon, so things will get worse before they get better. I'm most concerned that the Pen is going to become an Island and I will be either trapped on it or just my cats will be. I'm not sure which is worse. :\ Anyway, I guess it's just wait-and-see time. One can only hope for the best while preparing for the worst. I've got some spare clothes and other stuff packed up and in my car just in case. I have a decent amount of credit available, in case of emergency. I think this would count. I've also lost the ability to insert paragraph breaks effectively, so read the preceding at your own risk.
PEOPLE IN FLOODING AREAS: Please, please, PLEASE, if you come across a road that is water covered, do not attempt to cross it. Currents can be hard to discern and even a few inches of water can be enough to sweep away a person or even a vehicle.
Stay dry.
ETA: Just after I posted this, P called to say that the Sherriff's Dept. was out informing residents of a recommended evac, as the road to the Pen will probably be closed within the next 4 days. Power is out ATM, but might be restored. I'm going to do some work here quick and then head home. Kitties will probably stay with a roasting pan of food and a big pot of water on the second and third floors. Well, I'm really glad I bought so much reading materials last weekend.
