About the Flood

On Saturday Central Iowa received a vicious storm. All the elements were in place for a perfect storm: high humidity, approaching cold front, hot temperatures. The severe thunderstorm warnings began flashing on TV, then the weather radio joined in with its familiar howl and message. The rain started late afternoon, turning to downpours by 6 or 6:30 pm.

The weather radio began alerting us every 15 minutes with updates and new warnings of severe storms getting closer, flood warnings and watches, heavy rain, and then flash flood warnings for us. Then our cell phones began to go off with flood warnings and flash flood watches. Our five inch rain gauge was full and overflowing.

Flooded yard

The flash flood hit our back yard shortly after 6:30 and before our eyes it became a river that engulfed our flower bed, the neighbors' yards on both sides of us, and our new tree and the bird bath. The cable went off. It was raining buckets. I'd never seen it rain like that before. Rain falling over every inch of Ankeny, Des Moines, Johnston, Windsor Heights, Bondurant, Polk City and more. The mass of concrete roads, parking lots, driveways, all forcing the water to run between the curbs and in any areas that were low-lying.

Anxiety began  to build up as the alerts kept coming on the weather radio and our phones, then a knock at the door and a neighbor let us know that John's truck and sheep trailer (parked down the block ready for an early morning sheep show) was now in a flood area and the water was up on the tires. John put on a rain coat and braved the monsoon to move the truck and trailer to higher ground. He chose another location along our street large enough for his rig, then the street drain was gushing water, so he pulled into our driveway though he blocked the sidewalk.

John checked our sump pump and decided the rain was letting up a bit. The weather alerts were slowing down, except for the flood watches. It was 10 pm and it had been a frightening night and we were ready for bed.

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease," (Genesis 8:22 NIV).

Morning came and the sun peeked through massive blankets of low clouds. The storm had passed. We are still seeing signs of flooded basements appearing on driveways, as close as two blocks away. The heartbroken continue to be featured on the news. Why were we the lucky ones? One reason is John's insistent selection of a home two years ago that would not flood. Was this one of those 100-year floods that now happens every 25-years?

Through it all God is with us. Even when we wonder how much more rain would have to fall before we were flooded. Even when we are forced to haul wet carpet in pieces from the basement. Even when we don't feel like we can take one more thing in our lives. Even when we are relaxing and enjoying a wonderful vacation. God is with us. Always.

Thank you, gracious and loving God. Thank you.