The Flood

Well, our flood didn't quite last 150 days like it did for Noah. More like four days. But it was still a very exciting time in our lives.

The weekend prior to our area flooding, several neighborhoods in Lake Jackson had evacuated. Those neighborhoods were much closer to the bayou and river than us so I wasn't worried at all. Tuesday morning, I left for storytime and drove back home after lunch. In those three hours, the streets had a considerable amount of water. What confused me was the fact that it hadn't rained. Water was coming UP through the street drains. Around 1:45, I was nervous about getting my car out if the water kept rising the way it was. After calling the city a lot and waiting for their press release at 3:30pm, we were issued a voluntary evacuation. I hemmed and hawed about leaving. I couldn't reach Joseph at work so I needed to make a decision quickly. When the firefighters came around issuing the evacuation notice, the guy told me if the evacuation changed to mandatory and we couldn't get out of our house, we would be charged with child endangerment. That is what convinced me to leave. So we packed up quickly and someone with a very high truck came and got us. My car was stuck in the garage but Joseph was able to park a few blocks away where it hadn't flooded yet.

We were grateful for many ward members who opened their homes to us. We stayed with Ashton's best friend, Collin and their family. Ashton slept on a mattress on the floor, which was the first time out of a crib for her. She did alright. Our home never flooded but the streets were impassable until Friday and Saturday. We came back home Wednesday night to sleep by trekking through the water and then went back to Collin's for Thursday. That way, we weren't stuck at home all day long. Joseph had the rest of the week off so anytime we went somewhere, we walked a few blocks to our car and could get out.

I'm grateful we had 72 hour kits (even though we forgot them amidst the rush and craziness of the afternoon...) and food storage in our home. Also for the fact that we paid our flood insurance. Joseph couldn't remember if we had renewed it earlier in the spring so the first free moment he got was to check that we had insurance. We are also grateful our home didn't flood. We have some ward and stake members who are now facing major home repairs from flooding. It has allowed us to help serve and Ashton loves service opportunities. On Monday, we made lunch for the volunteers at one member's home. Ashton loved making sandwiches and giving lunch to all the missionaries and people there.

Taken around 1:30pm. When I left at 10:30, the streets were completely dry.

I walked around the street to take pictures and send to Joseph at work. I wanted him to see I wasn't just being silly and scared.

As we're leaving.

Playing at Collin's house. Ashton loves their firefighter hats.

Trekking our way back home Wednesday. For me, it was about knee deep at the deepest part. Some friends of ours live a few blocks further down and it was waist deep in some parts for them! Crazy!

The drainage ditches behind our houses. Most water I've ever seen in them.

Derrick and Tanner playing nicely.