The Flood 2016

The Flood

I just needed therapy. I haven't slept in a few days, I have avoided all the pictures, videos and even the news. I've even avoided Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This past week has been an emotional roller coaster. The little town I have called home for my dream business has been ravaged by heavy rain and floods this past Saturday. My day started out like every other Saturday with not enough sleep from working the night before (plus a few margaritas) and getting in early for the old town farmers market. I had no idea what was ahead. Even with the flash flood alerts going off, it still didn't register what was happening. I did my typical check of the store and all was well. A few minutes later Susan said that mud was coming into the basement, which meant Tiber Creek behind the store had breached the top and was flooding. I looked out the office window and saw the back deck under water. Still didn't register.
I ran out the back door yelling that I was moving my car from the lower lot. I mean like a 13 year old Volvo is something to worry about. I waded through thigh high water reached my car with water up to the doors. I got in and gunned it to the top of the lot and just drove it up the bank over the sidewalk and decided it was up high enough. I started running back to the store when all hell broke loose. I was on the birm 15 feet above the parking lot when Tiber Creek backed up so high that a small wall of raging water heading my way. It broke in front of me and behind me looking like Niagara Falls going over to the lot below. It rose to about 2 feet and I was watching logs, shrubs, trash cans and debris fly by. Luckily I was stuck on a little mound by a cherry tree, called my Boyfriend, screaming into the phone so he could hear me over the storm and a soaking wet clogged iPhone , told him that I loved him and to call the staff and tell them that I was safe and going up a tree. It's amazing that I could climb a tree with all this going on.
It's a weird thing sitting in that tree in the pouring rain watching cars slide around like little plastic game pieces. It was starting to register.
After about 30 minutes the rain stopped and the water slowed, made my way back to the store and started getting a glimpse of what had happened. Store fronts blown out, sections of sidewalk and street gone with deep sink holes in their place, dozens of cars washed away some with people in them.
Town as I know it, is gone!

The next morning it started to really sink in. I may be out of business. I'm a lucky one I've been told, The store survived with no damage, but did it?
How long can I hold on with my doors closed?
How long can I hold on with doors open and decreased business?

I arrived at the store to crowds of friends, strangers and fellow merchants all worried about everyone else. I was able to tour a small part of town with my dear friend Jeni. We walked to her business, Little French Market and passed cars crushed together like they were made of paper, phone polls laying over, the dumpster from 1000ft away perched on its corner towering over tiber creek like a weird piece of art, mud, bricks and debris everywhere, it looked like a bomb went off.

We walked into the cafe and she told me that Max had called her that evening and that water was starting to come into the cafe under the door, she hopped in her car and was there in 5 minutes. Water was 4ft high to the door and Windows. Max was trapped and hysterical. The store is built into a granite wall. If the door or Windows broke the store would start to fill with water. Luckily, there is a side window half way up the outside steps. Jeni broke the window and got Max out.

I walked out of the cafe up the steps to the top street and started to sob. My little sweet pea, Sofia was scheduled to work that night with Max but Jeni told her not to come in since it was going to rain and they would be slow. I called Sofia sobbing and told her that I loved her. She thinks I'm now a weirdo.

To think I was worried about The store. I am the lucky one!

________________________________

Thanks for reading this story! This was inspired by the floods in Ellicott City, Maryland in July 2016