July 16 2015 Fluency Blog--Day 10

What a roller coaster ride these past two weeks have been. I blogged about the Cassville flood the other day, the worst since 1935. Then on Friday, the Finley River here in Ozark flooded, the worst it has flooded in 100years. It actually broke that 100 year record.  

Water was up over the old Mill bridge which no one could remember that ever happening, bringing with it docks, kiacs, barrels, and whatever else was in it's path. The park was flooded like my mom said she'd never seen it, in the 47years she's lived in Ozark, covering the livestock barn they use at the county fair, up and over Riverside road, both north and south toward town, past the firehouse. Water got up enough to get in the Career Center ( the old Hanks Chevrolet lot) leaving 30 inches water lines on the walls. The same with the Chinese restaurant across the road, and even closing off Business 65 there at the bridge for a period of time. The only open route out of town was at the top of the hill to Hwy. 14 then to 65. The county fair was canceled and they had to pull rides out of knee deep mud and debris once the water receded.

 
I've seen pictures that were taken out by the old Riverside Bridge, Green Bridge, both under water; and Linen where, although was still partially flooded from the previous rains, the Friday night before we had gone to shoot fireworks. It was absolutely unreal! We had been under the bridge where Hwy 125 crosses Linden, which was several feet well above our heads, and water was over it, closing of Hwy 125.

Though we are lucky that the actual flooding didn't effect us, all the runoff from the “newer” subdivisions, those which were built after ours, drains down between our house and the neighbors to the south of us, winding up down in our back lot on the street behind us. We had our own little river going for a while ,and my mom spent two nights sopping up water that had run down the drive pooling in front of her bedroom door, and gradually seeping under it.

 
I know we aren't the only areas that have seen all this flooding here in Missouri, and elsewhere, this summer. But it really makes a big impact when you actually know and live in these places. I've never seen this much rain, like this, in my lifetime. According to the local news, we have received over 20 inches of rain in the past month. No wonder I'm starting to think I'm a duck.

 "....and the animals go marching into the ark, two by two.... "