Monday, September 12, 2011

Clean Start

The clean up efforts have begun here in my hometown. There is debris everywhere. My heart still breaks for all of the people that lost everything. It just blows my mind. I'm going out today to try and help around town. Offering my hands, my car, my ear...whatever is needed.

On a happier note the Girl went back to school today. She was not digging it after having such a long "weekend". But she managed to get it together and get on the bus with a smile on her face. I hope all the kids that have been displaced by this flood can find a little normalcy by going back to school today and seeing their friends and teachers.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Complete Madness

It has been a crazy couple of days here in the Greater Binghamton area. Tropical storm Lee decided to drop a crapload of water on us and we have been flooded for 2 days now. My house and little neighborhood is north and high enough that we were fine, but the amount of devastation in my stomping grounds is unfathomable. My best friend, who I love dearly, has lost her business. As of today the water is almost to the roof of her store. My nursing friends are stranded with either no power, no water,  or no way to get out. The grocery stores shelves are bare. That is the one's that are open and not under water. Gas stations have run out of gas. So many of the major roads are closed and under water. I have never felt so helpless and isolated.

I have taken the first steps to do what I can to help by helping out a FB friend with collection of donations for the shelters. I am making my first trip this afternoon to one of the local high schools. I hope my heart can handle seeing all those displaced people. While all this is going on my daughter has been playing with the neighbor kids and laughing without a care in the world. She has no idea how bad it really is around us and I'm not going to try and explain it to her.

I'm praying for all the people involved, the EMT's, the police, the firefighters and volunteers. I kind of just thought it would all go back to normal today, but it hasn't and it won't for a while.