Helen's Flooded Back Yard

My sister Helen has one of the most beautiful back yards around. Fragrant flowers, decorative vines and attractive stone garden features fit in very nicely with the small, gently flowing stream that flows across the lawn and in front of the guest cabin. It sure is a pretty place to sit on a bench and relax in the shade while the sounds of the gentle brook help melt away the tension built up during a long, hard day.

Well, this afternoon that gentle brook was transformed into a raging river when a rainstorm that would have impressed even Noah passed through the area. The creek rose in a flash, and before she knew it Helen's beautiful back yard was flooded with several inches of muddy water. Then, almost as quickly as it had risen, the creek subsided and slithered back into its banks, leaving behind all types of debris and considerable damage to the fence surrounding Helen's large dog lot.

Flooding on this scale is rare these days in our part of southwestern Virginia, but back when I was growing up it was quite common. The region received a lot more snow during winters past, and the inevitable spring rains would melt the snow very quickly which led to flash flooding in virtually every creek and river around. The town of Damascus, Virginia would get hammered every year, like clockwork. Roads and bridges would be under water for days at a time, and when the muddy water finally subsided the damage that had been hidden from view would have to be repaired.

Thanks to improvements in the area's infrastructure and changes in the weather pattern over the years, such flooding has gone from routine to rare, but when it does happen the results are just as distressing as they were back then.

After a little cleaning up and fence repair Helen's back yard will be just as beautiful as before, but some of her neighbor's aren't so lucky. They'll be working on their driveways, fences and basements in the days ahead, all the while dreading the next time nature's fury pays a visit.

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