Thursday, August 23, 2007

High and dry, for now

This was the scene Wednesday in Findlay, OH, where sister Sandy lives (Sandy's the one I don't live with). She works for Marathon Oil, whose headquarters were shut down Tuesday through today due to the flooding of the Blanchard River.

This next photo is the scene on Tuesday on I-75 southbound near Bluffton, OH, which I pass through every other week going south to Van Wert for DeMolay. Tuesday, it was blocked for 8 hours - yesterday, it was open for most of the day. I'm very glad that the road has (as of now, anyway) dried out - although more rain is forecast for this evening and tomorrow...

(If Bluffton, Ohio sounds familiar, it's probably from the Bluffton University baseball team bus tragedy earlier this year.)

Sandy and her family are safe and sound, though there were a number of rescue trips involved in the process. We here in Waterville are on the Maumee River, which has a huge flood plain and empties into Lake Erie, so we have no flood issues. We are struggling with power and internet connectivity as a result both of local construction and the water, but we are high and dry, so far.

There is much to be thankful for in that simple truth, even as I mourn with so many others in Findlay, Ottawa and other surrounding Ohio communities which are struggling with the aftermath of the Blanchard River flooding. For more photos, check out the Toledo Blade photo series here and the related article here.

Watch, O Lord, with all those awake this night
Watch, O Lord, with all those who weep,
Give your angels and saints
Charge over all who sleep...
Hold your grieving ones...in your love, Lord...
Raise your fallen ones...in your love, Lord...
Mend your broken ones...in your love, O Lord of all...
(Marty Haugen, "Watch O Lord," from the CD Turn My Heart)

2 comments:

Erin said...

Thanks for letting us know...

Scott M. Frey said...

an amazing sight... my thoughts and prayers will be with those folks at Mass this morning. I have financed several home purchases in Ottawa, half that town is in a flood zone and floods with an "normal" heavy rain. I cannot imagine how things must be right now!