It wasn't long ago that we thought the protective mama goose nesting on our dock was the only thing standing between us and a good time on the Missouri River this summer.
That changed in a flash with announcements early last week that the Corps of Engineers planned to increase the flow from the upstream Garrison dam by over 50,000 cubic feet per second into the river, our town, and our backyard. Heavy snow pack, rain -- and perhaps a lack of perspicacity on the part of the Corps of Engineers -- backed the water up behind the dam with no where to go but here.
In the days that followed, the news worsened. The release will rise to 85,000 cubic feet per second on Monday, to 90,000 cfs on June 4, to 95,000 on June 6 and 100,000 on June 7. It could reportedly elevate to 120,000 cfs in time. The highest flow ever recorded in the past was 64,000 cfs.
Flood stage on the Missouri is 16 feet; at 100,000 cfs the river will rise over 18. Yesterday, the river level stood at 15.8 feet.
It has been inspiring to be part of a community that has united to plan, build, and tackle the incredibly hard physical labor together. Most people have been going to their jobs for a few hours each morning then joining crews to shore up the property of friends, relatives, and strangers. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the team of Mike's colleagues who worked tirelessly with us on Thursday to help protect our home.
About a half dozen sandbag stations have been created by the National Guard where folks are shoveling scoop after scoop of sand into bags, hefting them onto trucks, driving them home and building walls.
Information flow is improving, though government officials are facing credibility issues because the news they share often changes, leading to scary rumors and false hopes. This is a "historic event" (floods are extremely rare here, and one of this magnitude has never been experienced) so we're all in uncharted territory, community leaders included.
We learned last night that a dike that had been planned to protect our neighborhood from the worst of the flow will not be built after all. This changes our mindset from "hey we could be OK" to "let's move everything our of the basement, come up with an evacuation plan, and try to figure out where we are going to live for the months it could take to recover from this if we have to leave it behind."
I have found that I cope best in this emergency when my hands are moving. Lifting a shovel, carrying a sandbag, pushing a wheelbarrow. It is difficult to concentrate on much else. Mike has been helping friends and colleagues every day, while also gearing us up with sump pumps, a generator, and doing the literal heavy lifting at our place.
Our neighborhood has come together in a collaborative and supportive spirit, and we have been heartened by everyone's generosity and guidance. Sherri, our friend who cares for our kittens when we travel and lives in a safe part of town, came by just to let us know that if we are forced to go, she will take our dear little Sundance and Daffodil into her home. This quiet comfort means the world.
Shelley from across the street made me laugh last night for the first time in days.
This post is getting long and it is starting to rain. I have added photos to my facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/krnmaria3#!/media/set/?set=a.229507787062822.76105.100000108077904 if you'd like to have a look. I will try to keep updating both here and there.
Meanwhile, I understand open water swim season starts this weekend in Seattle. Don't get me started.
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