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In the wake of the third "100-year-flood" we've had in 17 years, it most certainly feels like one...

The National Guard is everywhere, and most roads are closed, including the interstate. There are a few places where you can get on the freeway, but only as long as you're getting on in the direction that leads away from the flood. When I drove on the freeway today, I was the only car going South, and the North-bound lanes were closed.

I also drove through town today, but because so many roads were closed, the few that were opened had a lot of traffic. I even dove by my local Safeway, and they were packed. In fact, I have never, ever, seen that many people at that Safeway. Though, the mass of people congregating at Safeway may have had a lot to do with the fact that our local WalMart Supercenter is closed...

Here's a picture of the WalMart exit. WalMart is in the top-left, and that's Home Depot in the top-right. Also, there's a gas-station, an Applebee's, and a Walgreen's. The interstate is somewhere under the water. That bit of road that's poking out of the water is the off-ramp. (This WalMart is about 25 miles from my house, but because the area is so rural, I go there all the time--there aren't many other shopping options...)



Hopefully, the freeway will open soon, because many grocery stores are running out of food, and officials will not allow semi-trucks (which deliver food) to take the back roads around the flood.

In any event, aside from a 500 mile detour, there is currently only one other route around the flood, and it is very congested...


(The image is copyright to my local Channel 4 news...)