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Hurricane Ike And The Little Calumet River Flood, Vol. 2

Updated on November 16, 2008

Hashing The Days Events Over In Your Head As You Try To Catch Some Zs

A day of turmoil and calamity leaves you worn to the bone. Trying to go to sleep, your mind races with visions and feelings for the day. Taking someone elses bed for the night out of desperation leaves you anxious and frustrated. Wondering how bad it will turn out causes worry. Below is a slide show of visions that danced in my head as I lay in a friends bed, thinking what a nightmare it has been. The surealistic emotion is daunting to say the least. Click on the red arrows to advance the images.

Surealism

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A friend comes to help gather all the gasoline powered equipment stored in our garage.The driveway is flooding and we have no idea how much time we have before we are forced to flee.It All Becomes A Blur...................................
A friend comes to help gather all the gasoline powered equipment stored in our garage.
A friend comes to help gather all the gasoline powered equipment stored in our garage.
The driveway is flooding and we have no idea how much time we have before we are forced to flee.
The driveway is flooding and we have no idea how much time we have before we are forced to flee.
It All Becomes A Blur...................................
It All Becomes A Blur...................................

Watching The Water Rise With A Sick Gut Feeling About The Situation

September 13, 2008: Noon
September 13, 2008: Noon
My water gauge was the fire hydrant just across the street, photo shot from my front porch.
My water gauge was the fire hydrant just across the street, photo shot from my front porch.
Soon to disappear, I watched with Randy's words of prediction ringing through my mind.
Soon to disappear, I watched with Randy's words of prediction ringing through my mind.

Feelings Of Uncertainty And Fear, Was It Instinct Calling?

Six weeks ago a group of us were talking and one of my friends asked me if I had noticed the local wildlife was acting unusual. I had not payed too close of attention was my answer. We are both avid gardeners and gardening has a way of bring us closer to Mother Nature. My friend suggested maybe we were in for a rough winter. He had noted the birds and the squirrels were unusually busy as if winter might come calling, colder and sooner than the average. I told him I was honestly not working my garden like I would normally do because I had fallen behind with all that I have going on. I was just too busy to tend the garden this year.

I remember him saying he did not know what it was but something was stirring and it concerned him. He had the feeling something bad was about to happen. He also said that all we could do was to wait and see. I agreed and really did not think too much more about it. Several days before the flooding occurred our local weather was forecasting the possibility of heavy rain that could take a toll on our area.

This forecast was directly related to the landfall of Hurricane Ike. They suggested that rain could make it's way as far north as Chicago and cause flooding. The strange thing about the forecast was that my town was singled out in that weather report. The announcement caught the attention of both my housemate and myself. We had both grown up in this area and had never remembered our town being mentioned in particular, especially in reference to flooding. We had both experienced flooding a couple of times as kids but, those problems were supposedly remedied. Sure water would pond in very low areas and some back up would be expected but danger of breaching levies was not a consideration.

A Day Late And A Dollar Short

The effort to sandbag streets were not initiated until after the river had crested the night before.
The effort to sandbag streets were not initiated until after the river had crested the night before.

The Adjoining Town Just Across The River Had Taken Full Precautions

Just across the river the city of Hammond had done all that they deemed necessary to avoid the wake of flooding if it were to occur. Later reports were given that our Town Council Of Munster had ignored suggestions and warnings of concern when calls from Hammond Indiana Officials were made several days prior to the flood. The Town did not listen or pay heed to the timely concern. As a result, Hammond was ready and waiting and suffered minimal damage compared to Munster. The Town Of Munster dropped the ball at the expense of it"s residents property loss, health and safety.

A Three Ring Circus In The Streets. Click on the red arrows below to advance these photos showing how it played out.

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Overnight the water continued to rise.We wadded back to the house to grab the gear that would be useful in the days to follow. It was day 2,and the flooding continued.The streets were filled with people, confused and concerned, chaos was calling.The Munster High School Football Team Huddle For Sandbagging InstructionsThe Government called in the National Guard.Some folks could only watch while others passed out home made cookies. The helicopters circled the area for several days.Some people seemed to take joy in the occasion.Young men worked hard and long.The water was getting to deep for the Town Of Munster Dump Trucks.The news media was on the scene.My ugly little boat was enlisted to carry sandbags when the Town Trucks could not get in where they were needed most.The bridge to Hammond. Just before nightfall we went back to our house to feed the fish, gather some clothes, check for damage, and survey the situation at hand.The water continued to rise through the day. We were praying it would not reach the upper level of our house.The basement was filled and we were concerned that the still rising water would consume the main floor of the house over night. All we could do was wait and see what tomarrow would bring.
Overnight the water continued to rise.
Overnight the water continued to rise.
We wadded back to the house to grab the gear that would be useful in the days to follow. It was day 2,and the flooding continued.
We wadded back to the house to grab the gear that would be useful in the days to follow. It was day 2,and the flooding continued.
The streets were filled with people, confused and concerned, chaos was calling.
The streets were filled with people, confused and concerned, chaos was calling.
The Munster High School Football Team Huddle For Sandbagging Instructions
The Munster High School Football Team Huddle For Sandbagging Instructions
The Government called in the National Guard.
The Government called in the National Guard.
Some folks could only watch while others passed out home made cookies.
Some folks could only watch while others passed out home made cookies.
The helicopters circled the area for several days.
The helicopters circled the area for several days.
Some people seemed to take joy in the occasion.
Some people seemed to take joy in the occasion.
Young men worked hard and long.
Young men worked hard and long.
The water was getting to deep for the Town Of Munster Dump Trucks.
The water was getting to deep for the Town Of Munster Dump Trucks.
The news media was on the scene.
The news media was on the scene.
My ugly little boat was enlisted to carry sandbags when the Town Trucks could not get in where they were needed most.
My ugly little boat was enlisted to carry sandbags when the Town Trucks could not get in where they were needed most.
The bridge to Hammond.
The bridge to Hammond.
Just before nightfall we went back to our house to feed the fish, gather some clothes, check for damage, and survey the situation at hand.
Just before nightfall we went back to our house to feed the fish, gather some clothes, check for damage, and survey the situation at hand.
The water continued to rise through the day. We were praying it would not reach the upper level of our house.
The water continued to rise through the day. We were praying it would not reach the upper level of our house.
The basement was filled and we were concerned that the still rising water would consume the main floor of the house over night. All we could do was wait and see what tomarrow would bring.
The basement was filled and we were concerned that the still rising water would consume the main floor of the house over night. All we could do was wait and see what tomarrow would bring.

Facing What Tomarrow Holds In Store

Sleep came with nightmares. They were the same dreams over and over, like a broken record. I would doze off only to wake in a frenzy, realize I was dreaming and force myself back to sleep. Chaos ruled in my dreams and it was every man for himself. The town was in rubble and the utilities no longer worked. People were in hiding and there was no way to tell if someone was friend or foe. It was wild in the streets and the life we knew yesterday no longer existed, in the wink of an eye. Thank God it was only dreams.

Stay tuned for vol. 3, to be continued..

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