AND THE RAINS CAME

 

From at least 4:30 AM, when Grandpère turned on the light in the bathroom without closing the door and woke me up, it rained and poured and rained and poured the entire day.  Since I needed groceries, when the rain slackened a bit, I rushed to the supermarket.  Alas, while I was shopping, the torrential rain started again, and, when I left the supermarket, I had to wade through the heavy rain in above-the-ankle water in the flooded parking lot to reach my car.  On the way home, I found that my street was blocked by the police because of floodwater. I backed up, turned around, and approached from another direction and was able to reach home, TBTG. I didn't leave the house for the rest of the day, except for periodically donning the plastic poncho to take Diana out to do her business.

The heavy rain doesn't show in the picture above, but you can see the puddles and maybe the water in the street, if you click on the photo.   

PICTURES OF HAVOC WREAKED BY SANDY IN AND AROUND NYC

LaGuardia Airport

New York subway

FDR Drive under water.

Entrance to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel

George Takei

A double rainbow touching down in Manhattan symbolizes the end of the storm and the beginning of the recovery.

My title for the rainbow picture is "Hope". NYC, one of my favorite cities, will recover.

The other pictures are from the Facebook pages of my friends Dan and Doug.

UPDATE: More pictures at Doug's blog Counterlight's Peculiars.

THE THREAT OF THE RISING MISSISSIPPI RIVER

From NOLA.com:

Louisianians haven't lived though this dangerous a threat from the in more than a generation -- and that's an emergency that compels officials and residents alike to be prepared. It also warrants a full emergency declaration from the federal government.

Thousands of people across South Louisiana were evaluating their risk and making preparations Monday, as the Army Corps of Engineers continued taking measures to relieve pressure on river levees and minimize the expected flooding.

Crews began opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish. Communities in the Atchafalaya Basin placed sand bags and alerted residents of possible evacuations if the Morganza Spillway is opened north of Baton Rouge. And Gov. Bobby Jindal directed hundreds of Louisiana National Guard troops to assist in those efforts and to be ready to help victims of flooding.

Corps of Engineers maps forecast flooding in large areas of St. Mary, Assumption, Terrebonne and other South Louisiana parishes if Morganza is opened for the first time since 1973. The corps still was estimating Monday how many homes and other structures may flood. But residents shouldn't have to wait for maps to make preparations. As Gov. Bobby Jindal warned: "If you got wet in 1973, you'll get wet this time. If you nearly got wet in 1973, you'll probably get wet this time."

As Gilda Radner said, "It's always something." Especially lately. One disaster follows another.



The Mississippi River at Rivertown in Kenner, Louisiana

If you turn around and face the other way toward the land, you are looking down, and you see very quickly that without the levee Rivertown and many other areas along the river would be flooded. We walked up a good many steps to get to the top of the levee.



The ship rides high, and the ships will ride higher as the river crests further south. Pray that the levees hold, and pray for the people who will be flooded by the opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway and the Morganza Floodway.

UPDATE: The opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway will not cause homes to flood, because the water will go into Lake Pontchartrain and the Rigolets, but it will, very likely, mess up certain of the oyster beds again. The poor oyster fishers have had a rough time of it what with the BP gusher and now the high river.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD IN AUSTRALIA

From the Couriermail.com.au:

11.08am: Brent Clayton of West End in Brisbane writes:

Took this pic today.... Now we know where to go :)

From ACNS:

To All Australian Bishops

Dear brothers and sisters

The flood crisis has reached a critical level in Brisbane, Ipswich, the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba, the Somerset and Scenic Rim Regions.

Some communities in southwestern Queensland that have so recently been devastated and are now being inundated again or facing renewed threats. People who had only just returned to homes and cleaned up are facing repeated evacuation and repeated devastation. Bundaberg, Condamine, Chinchilla, Dalby and other towns are in this desperate situation.

Floodwater in Rockhampton remains high with the Diocesan offices still under some two feet or so of water.

Today the Brisbane CBD is virtually empty with people told not to come to work. Public transport has more or less ceased. Power has been disconnected in many places. The Brisbane River is expected to reach its flood peak sometime tomorrow. Fears are that it will be worse than the 1974 flood.

This morning I assembled a small team to work with me in coordinating diocesan response and resources. We are working to assist the state Emergency Response Team to accommodate and care for those whose homes and businesses have been inundated or destroyed.
....

In this most trying situation we are encountering a variety of responses among our people. Many who have lost loved ones are in deep shock and grief, as are those who have lost homes, precious possessions, businesses and livelihoods. They need to know that they are not alone in their profound sense of loss. Our presence with them and our prayers for them can reassure them of our solidarity with them and point them to God’s presence with them in the midst of all they are going through.
....

In addition I commend the prayer below to you and ask if you would provide it to your people to use and include it in services this Sunday and in the weeks ahead:

Great God
whose love for us knows no bounds,
we pray for all those who are affected by floods:
comfort all who grieve for loved ones lost;
strengthen those who face destruction of homes, memories and livelihoods;
encourage and sustain police, defence force, SES and church personnel and
all who bring relief and assistance.
Fill our hearts with compassion and generosity for all in need.
As we face our greatest fears
may we know the assurance of your presence with us
and hold fast to the promise of new life beyond all adversity.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord
and who lives with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
....

I have received many messages from bishops of the Anglican Communion offering their support and prayers. They are greatly appreciated.

Please be assured of my prayers and support as you care for those who seek assistance at this critical time.

With my best wishes
Yours in Christ
The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall
Primate

H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE PATH OF THE FLOODWATERS IN AUSTRALIA

From Cathy:

Would you terribly mind posting an urgent prayer request for this tonight:

If the Wivenhoe Dam breaks or overflows in any serious way, thousands of people in Brisbane could die. The 1974 floods were disastrous. It seems to be doing its job at the moment, as they say, but it is holding a horrendous amount of water. My dad's house is in one of the suburbs that has been warned to expect flooding,

cathy x

From the Couriermail.com:

A BODY of floodwater larger than Sydney Harbour threatens Brisbane, with only the Wivenhoe Dam's 2.3km-long earthen wall standing in its path.

Police are advising people near the Brisbane River at West End to move to higher ground.

"The Brisbane River has risen and we are starting to see the water enter streets in the low lying areas of West End." a police spokesman said.

This comes after Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman warned yesterday that more water was flowing into the Wivenhoe Dam than the Brisbane River had received in the 1974 floods.

The Brisbane City Council last night issued a warning for residents in more than 30 suburbs to expect flooding.

Read the rest at the link above.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers and protect the people threatened by floodwaters in Australia. Among all the changes and chances of this life, defend them by your gracious and ready help, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

UPDATE: Brian at Noble Wolf posted a video of floodwaters inundating the city of Toowoomba in Queensland. 8 are dead, and 70 are missing.