Fall Flood 2006

Here are some of the photos I took during the recent flood. Of course, there is a story to go along with the photos, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so maybe you can figure it out. Let me just say, it was a sleepless night as we watched the river rise.

Here is a picture of my neighbor's picnic shelter when the river is running high, but not cresting the banks (taken in 2005).

This is the same picnic shelter as the water began to overflow its banks.

Before completely evacuating, the neighbor's son (?) took time to do a little "fishing." Just by dipping his net into the murky water, he managed to snag two salmon!

To add a little perspective, before it started to rain, this is what the river looked like (take from a bridge just a mile from my home and looking south).

Compare and contrast that with this picture, taken from almost the same viewpoint. The difference between the two is only 5 days and a whole lot of rain! Even at that, the river had not yet jumped its banks.

When it finally did, THIS is what it looked like.

Now, same bridge, same sequence, but looking north instead.

Note the depth from the top of the levee to the river in this picture is about 10-12 feet.

A few days later, the distance between the top of the levee and the river had been reduced to no more than a couple feet.

Sometime during the late evening hours, the levee had been breeched and began to flood the fields.

This is what it looked like the next day.

Meanwhile, back at my house, the water continued to rise all night. When morning finally dawned, this is what the back part of my property looked like. The picnic shelter is in back of that blue house in the distance. (Dang, this pic isn't cooperating. I'll put up a different one.)

This is half of the picture above and shows part of my property and my next door neighbor's flooded barn.

Taking a walk that day and this is some of what we saw.

Clearly, this is now the road to nowhere and mail delivery is NOT going to happen.

Just a few inches are what kept this house from being completely flooded.

This house is next door to the log cabin, but sits ever so slightly lower in elevation. The end result is evident.

I believe this mobile home park made national news. It is only a mile from my home.

Back in my yard...

Here is a photo taken somewhat from ground level and looking towards where the river should be. Note all the debris in the water.

What a difference just a few hours can make. Same view, but taken after the rain had stopped. The waters have obviously begun to recede. Again, note all the debris; that's someone's siding in my yard.

And in the midst of all the chaos is beauty, found in a sunset reflection.