Daughter’s home is safe from flooding

As much as I enjoy visiting my daughter and her family, I am very glad we didn’t choose this weekend to visit. If you haven’t heard, there is massive flooding once again in her area of Texas.
It had rained for several days before the heavens opened up in a deluge worthy of the great flood. It would have caused Noah to speed up the finishing touches to the ark and abandon his wish for an ornate, carved staircase that went from one level to the next. My daughter, Beth, reported that although her house was dry, her neighbors weren’t so lucky. They had waist-deep water inside their living room.
The neighbors intended to ride out the flood in a hotel. Unfortunately, the flooded roads had other ideas. For the time being, Beth has another couple living upstairs. Their very large dogs have joined Beth’s expanding menagerie. Beth’s husband, Duston, isn’t fond of all the animals but he does enjoy helping people so it balances out.
The kids are reportedly having a blast. Six-year old Jacob was stuck at school for several extra hours on Friday. It normally takes about five minutes to go from his home to the school. The parking lot for the busses was underwater and parents were to pick up their children when they could. It took Duston more than two hours to get to the school. The lights went out just as he got there. I have no idea how the teachers kept the remaining children under control in the dark or how long the power outage lasted.
The other kids are also enjoying the disruption in schedules. Granddaughter Emma was to have a swim meet either Friday or Saturday. It was canceled. Beth said she had begun coaching her and a few of her teammates in private as the kids weren’t understanding some of the terms their coach was using. All that time spent as a lifeguard and swim teacher before going into nursing is coming in handy. She said it is the first time Emma is actually listening to her.
Beth made it to work Friday with only a few detours. She ended up having to spend the night. It took at least three hours for her to finally make it home on Saturday. Most of the roads she usually traveled were closed due to flooding.
The next week will be spent watching water levels. It might peak at an even higher level than it is now. Eventually, it will all recede and things will be back to what passes for normal.
I think of all this whenever I read about yet another study to determine what should be done to prevent flooding in my own town. I see truckloads of big rocks that had lined the riverbanks. I have no idea where they are hauling them or why. I hear chainsaws and woodchippers as trees are cleared from the edges of the waterway. I wonder if it is a good thing to remove roots that both hold soil in place and suck up water. I trust that the engineers know what they are doing.
Anywhere there is water, there is the possibility of a flood. Water is necessary for life as we know it. It can be destructive or productive. It can prevent one from getting to or leaving from work or school. Lack of water is also destructive, causing death to plants, animals and everything else.
We seek a balance. We want and need water, but not so much that it fills our living rooms and drowns out our usual routes of travel.
I am grateful that my daughter, her family and neighbors are safe. And I wonder when it will happen again.