# ..and it is STILL raining (w/picture of my front yard) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 14, 2006, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953 "2006-01-14T11:10:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/1 "2006-01-14T11:10:03Z")
It’s been raining for the last 24 days or so. It sounds like we’re to have a break part of sunday before the next front moves in. About 15 feet from my front door is a “sea wall”. There is an old metal fire escape that runs down the wall to get to the path. The fire escape has 12 steps. I can only see 9 of them at the moment. [This is what my front yard looks like.](http://www.sevengraylands.com/images/water-1.jpg) That is a path that goes down to the river front. The water is several feet higher now then in that picture. Right in the middle of the picture there is a small white thing poking out of the water. That is a little fire extinguisher that washed up about two weeks ago. I hung it on an old fence post in the middle of the path to remind myself to bring it up when I came back from the shore (of course I forgot it). The fence post I hung it on is about 4 foot tall. The water at the fence post is about 6 foot deep now. In the background is my neighbours dock. The extra water and stronger current (not to mention the added debris moving downstream) snapped it. The owner managed to tie it off so it won’t break free, but I’m not sure how he’s going to straighten it up again. There is little chance we’ll get water in the house. It still has a fair amount to go before it becomes a risk so I’m not really worried. Sadly, a few people on this river haven’t been so lucky. We’re a bit over a foot of flood stage at the moment (flood is 27 feet and we’re at 28). Just in case, we have a plan of attack though. If the water makes it to the 4th step of the fire escape we’re getting a storage unit. At two steps we’re moving out the non-replaceable objects and sand bagging. If it reaches the landing, we’re leaving. I highly doubt it will come to that. I think the water will only go up a couple more steps. This river HAS made it into this house in 1996 - we didn’t live here at the time. If I were sitting where I am now in 96 my head would be 3 feet under water. 😃 In a way it’s kind of cool to see the water this high. I’d have more fun with it if people weren’t getting flooded out though. It’s fun to see the critters react to this. The beaver have been playing tag in the path. The few geese that are still around crack me up. They move at a snails pace going upstream. Downstream it seems like they should have a roostertail behind them because of the current. It’s weird to see geese swim that fast. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/2 "2006-01-14T12:50:31Z")
What river is that?? We had friends who lived on Black Creek in Florida, and one year they had terrible floods. We were over there with a rental truck, loading their downstairs furniture, and taking the smaller things upstairs. Thankfully, the water never reached the house, although much of their yard was submerged. Unfortunately, they were on their honeymoon at the time, so they came home to one hellacious chore!! We don’t live on the water, but our county is a peninsula between two rivers and it also touches the Chesapeake Bay. There are several areas of road that are marked as flood-prone, including a fair part of my commute to work. Luckily, we’re inland a ways, and at one of the higher points of our neighborhood. If the water comes lapping at our door, you’ll be seeing the animals moving along two by two. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/3 "2006-01-14T13:02:14Z")
Seattle, right? :dubious: 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/4 "2006-01-14T16:06:56Z")
Conversely, it hasn’t rained here since October 18th. [Link](http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2006-01-12-arizona-drought_x.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/5 "2006-01-14T16:11:44Z")
I _like_ rain. It’s one of the things that attracted me to the PNW. But this is becoming ridiculous! I live very close to the beach. Fortunately, I’m at the top of a 40 or 50 foot hill. 😃 Other houses in the neighbourhood don’t have drainage as good as mine. Their front yards have become ponds. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/6 "2006-01-14T16:58:40Z")
Wow, **Seven.** Has the water started going down at all, or is just getting worse? I’m fortunate, I don’t live near a body of water, and knock on wood, everything seems to be fine in my neighborhood, so far. There are areas a few miles from me where they’ve flooded out, but so far, nothing here. I, for one, am sick of the rain, and I’ve lived here most of my life. A little dose of sunshine would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/7 "2006-01-14T17:10:49Z")
Come on sissies! wait. oh yeah, I’m pretty sick of it too. Our house is on a hill above Lake Washington, but we’re at least 1000 feet from the cliff, maybe as much as a quarter mile. I don’t think we have to worry. Our neighbors a cross the street, I’m not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/8 "2006-01-14T17:14:30Z")
Yowser, **Seven**! I’m already getting jumpy and your picture (and [and this one](http://komotv.com/stories/41292.htm)) ain’t helping. We live on the side of a mountain and I’m waiting for the house above to wind up in our kitchen. Did Ray Bradbury live in Seattle? Somebody should build a sundome (in a flat area away from streams, rivers and runoff – oh.). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/9 "2006-01-14T17:22:21Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Yowser, **Seven**! I’m already getting jumpy and your picture (and [and this one](http://komotv.com/stories/41292.htm)) ain’t helping. We live on the side of a mountain and I’m waiting for the house above to wind up in our kitchen. > > Did Ray Bradbury live in Seattle? Somebody should build a sundome (in a flat area away from streams, rivers and runoff – oh.). ☹ Yikes, I hope that doesn’t happen to you. I’ve been watching the news too. You know, we have slides every year, but…it seems nothing is done to shore up these hills and cliffs to PREVENT the slides. I realize not all slides are preventable; you can’t win all battles with Mother Nature. This year, the slides seem worse, only because the ground is so saturated. Good luck. I also don’t understand people who build homes right on the edge of a cliff. I just don’t get it. Maybe I’ve lived here too long and know what is going to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/10 "2006-01-14T17:30:11Z")
I hope my above post didn’t sound, um, snarky in regards to people who live on cliff edges. I didn’t mean it to sound that way, at ALL. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/11 "2006-01-14T17:40:30Z")
Thanks, **Taters**. I was overstating a mite. I don’t expect an imminent collapse, but looking up at the wet hillside does not make for peace of mind. We aren’t on a cliff, but on a steep incline (like so many homes in the hills around Seattle). We’ve lived here for 15 years and our neighborhood’s been here for more than 30 without washing away – hope the good record continues (and the rain doesn’t). ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/12 "2006-01-14T17:50:38Z")
I hope the good record continues too, **koeeoaddi.** ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/13 "2006-01-14T17:50:53Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > I hope my above post didn’t sound, um, snarky in regards to people who live on cliff edges. I didn’t mean it to sound that way, at ALL. No worries. I wonder why anyone would have a long-ass. precarious, 45 degree driveway with a hairpin turn, but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/14 "2006-01-15T04:16:08Z")
**FairyChatMom** : That is the Willamette River in Portland. **Bosda** : See above 😃 **Taters** : It has been rising for the last week or so. Today it stopped raining and the water has gone down about 6 inches so far. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/15 "2006-01-15T04:34:12Z")
While I’m not even nearly in y’alls league, I do live on a desert dry lake bed that ain’t a dry lake bed anymore! I got a real live lake just south of my house on the other side of the fence! Wind blew so hard today it had little waves! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/16 "2006-01-15T04:53:15Z")
gatopescado: How deep is the water in your not-so-dry lake bed? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/17 "2006-01-15T05:19:32Z")
Of course I would see this _after_ filling out an application to move into a complex near the same river in Salem where the rain has been similarly insane. I was actually happy to move to Oregon because I love the rain but this winter has made me somewhat less enthusiastic. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/18 "2006-01-15T09:22:10Z")
Well, after two years here, I finally get to see some of this famous Seattle rain. Hooray. We’re across from the Locks. No flooding here. However, my FIL, who lives at the top of the hill here in Ballard, has his basement flooded already, poor soul. He’s not really near any water… well, besides Golden Gardens and North Beach, but they’re below him by quite a bit. Just rain and cracks in the foundation. Damn. I don’t mind the rain, though. It’s kind of pleasant. And I bust out my pretty pastel purple umbrella that makes the locals tighten their hoods and nod to themselves: _foreigner_, they think. And true enough. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/19 "2006-01-15T09:48:33Z")
Wow. Never mind the teasing in your emigration thread – you folks will take to Vancouver like… well, like a duck takes to water. 27 days of rain here. (Just a _tiny_ little bit today, though.) [Plenty of anxiety about mudslides, too](http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/01/13/Mudslide_alert060113.html). A fella I’ve got staying with me now has only just arrived this fall after knowing nought but Texas and Alabama. I think it’s going to be a bit more of an adjustment for him. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953/20 "2006-01-15T10:42:19Z")
To make matter just a tiny bit worse, the rain a little while ago contained aspiring snow flakes. Just what we need. (sigh) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-it-is-still-raining-w-picture-of-my-front-yard/339953.md?page=2)