So before my husband left for work last night he said, "well.  At least we don't have to put that big screen up on blocks anymore.  But maybe we should get the bar off the floor soon."  I agreed.  As I passed down Creaser Road yesterday afternoon (before the torrential down pours) I noticed that the cow field on either side of the bulging creek was a large sheet of swampy ice well into a thaw.  The big screen TV was given away last weekend, so we didn't need to worry about that down stairs.  The only big concern was the bar.  But every time we pick every thing up & prepare for the worse...the worse never comes.

 

He left for work and I went to bed, drifting to sleep around midnight.  At one forty-five AM I was awakened by my dogs prancing, tapping toes up and down the hardwood hallway.  They were disturbed by something.  As I sat up in bed I noticed the flashing Orange light, mixed with the blue sputters of a smaller bulb.  DPW and the Westmoreland FD were parked in the road in front of my house and in my driveway.  I was grateful for that, because as I woke, I heard my sub pump's sounds of distress.

 

I went down stairs in my tank top and slippers and found the one locked in the on position.  I noticed that the water was filling the basin at such a rapid speed that it could not pump it out fast enough.  I spent the next half hour aligning the little grommets on the top and bottom of the sub pump so that they would turn on & off simultaneously (that is no small task).  I then went back to bed, setting my alarm to go off in two hours so I could check them again.

 

As I lay in bed I heard the pumps switch on...I counted...60 Mississippi.  Then they turn off...I counted...25 Mississippi.  This went on for some time (I count...small OCD that I suffer from.)  The sound of the pumps was only overshadowed by the incessant lights flashing and the sound of men talking loudly in the street. 

 

At three they finally left.  Two hours they stood in front of my house and talked loudly, yelled to each other, laughed wildly, and backed large beeping equipment several times.  I could hear them as clearly as if they were in my room with me...I could not sleep.

 

At three thirty I ventured back down stairs.  Their contractions seemed to be on a cycle...37 seconds before they turned on, then 42 seconds, and then 24 seconds....37, 42 24, 37,42, 24....but running much longer now.  As I reached the bottom of the steps...splash.  We were taking on water.  I squinted (without contacts or glasses) around and noticed just a small amount in the middle of the basement.  I trudged through to the pumps.  They were not perfectly timed any longer but I easily remedied that problem.  As the pumps switched on, I thought the water sounded louder then usual.  I flashed the light to the back of the large water basin to find a hose that appeared to be no longer connected.  The pump was pushing the water out through this hose, which was draining it right back into the hole (that's not good.) 

 

I spent the next half hour picking up everything we own and piling it on top of the pool table, bar & couches.  Then I ran upstairs and called my husband.  No staying after for Overtime today I told him.  Then I remembered the cat was down stairs with me, so I made him hold while I located her and brought her to safety.

 

Back in bed..I just wanted an hour or two.  Brett called at 5:00.  I had just checked and we still only had a small stream of water in the center of the room.  I told him no need to rush, the pumps are on and staying on, so we'll just pray the motors don't give out.  He came home early anyways and went straight down stairs.  Sleep was just not happening for me no matter how many times I ordered myself to it.  I came down at six to see if he needed help...There was more then an inch of water around the entire down stairs of our home.  I was shocked...In only an hour that much seeped through the small giser in the floor.  So I asked, what did they do down the street last night?  They put up a ROAD CLOSED sign. 

 

Needless to say, it is now 11:30 in the morning and all we do is shop vac the water to dump into our basin, for three sub pumps to thrust into the ditch, which will turn around and pour right back into our home. 

 

I need a nap. 

 

What I wonder now, is where is the town of Westmoreland?  New channel two has been here.  They report that clean up efforts are being made; pumping peoples cellars and sand bagging....But I am sitting right here & I see no one.  No one doing anything whatsoever to help us.  This will no doubt go on for days and then another two weeks drying out.

 

Why can't they dig a small trench, something like Clinton dug back in the day (Erie Canal) and route some of this water.  We're not even right next to the stream.  I can't imagine what those people are going through.  We flood every year...Why is there no cure?

 

I emailed our Town Supervisor this morning, he responded - "Oneida County Soil and Water has applied for a Hazard Mitigation Grant in 2006 for certain areas of the County and Berkshire Drive is on the list. Hopefully something will develop from this and the problem will be solved. If I can be of any further assistance feel free to contact me."   

 

What does that mean?  How does that help us right now?  That's what I am looking for.  We would all like to be able to sleep sometime today...some can't even leave their homes.

 

OK..I must go now....more pumping to do.

 

OH!  And todays motto is - "At least it's not sewage."