A Winter Flood on our Street

Early morning scene on our street - A River Runs Through It

I don't know why I peered out the window after midnight last night, but I was very shocked to see a river flowing across the street. At that time there was not a soul stirring and I didn't know who(m) to call.

I had to wake the husband. This was a situation too crazy to sleep through. We tried to call 911 without success, but eventually learned that crews were one street over, working to resolve the problem.

We  learned that a water main had broken around midnight, about a block uphill from here. By 2:00 AM the water had receded, a city worker had unplugged the sewer grates, and much of the remaining water had frozen over, with single digit temperatures around 8 degrees.

We took in a few gallons of water near the new furnace in the center of the house. I moved a dresser and a trunk and that was it.

In the morning I will see whether all my mulch and plantings drifted away in this mini winter flood that flowed through our side yard.

This is the closest we have come to having water in our basement in 20 years, but one of our neighbors across the street and in the dip of the valley had a wet basement for sure.

We were trying to wake them, but couldn't get through the river. The water was deeper than any boots I own. A neighbor up the street finally devised a bridge and alerted them to the impending flood.

I should have taken a video--this water was on the move!

A Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Just when I think everything is going smoothly again--new furnace running warmly, 4WD vehicle getting me through the snowy streets--there is new trouble, in the middle of a very cold night!