Editor's note: As residents in 12 states are experiencing heavy rainfall and flooding this week, Yahoo News is publishing their first-person experiences.
FIRST PERSON | FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. -- Drought stuck our city, about 30 minutes due south of Atlanta, this summer. To manage, we set up collection barrels to conserve precious rainwater to keep my flowers and bushes alive. As a gardener, I was hard-pressed to keep things growing. However, as the saying goes, "Life is like the weather, just wait and it will change."
Now, the weather has done a 180 here in Georgia this week. I don't mind the cooler temps -- 80s in August instead of upper 90s or stifling 100s -- but I could do with a tad less rain.
The state has seen two flash floods in the last week. Just a week into August,it received in all of August last year. The state is already close to surpassing its annual average rainfall. And more precipitation is forecast through Thursday.
The abundance of liquid sunshine has been overwhelming, and we received rain nearly every day. Adjustments were required. The rain barrels had to go. So much rain was falling so fast this week that the barrels were topping out, and water was backing up into the gutters causing overflow and a literal waterfall surrounding the house. Wooden surfaces are covered with fungus, mildew, moss, and the many varieties of small plant life that so enjoy the wet. Watch your footing. You could end up sitting instead of standing. Then we have mosquitoes, and my little bat family can't keep up.
We had an above ground pool, "had" being the operative word. The ground on the downhill side became so saturated with water that part of it slid down the hill, tipping the pool a few inches. That few inches was all it took for the next big rain to collapsed it. I think we'll get a hot tub instead.
We are looking at flooded streets, backed-up sewers, fallen trees, electrical outages and myriad associated challenges. One might think Mother Nature was annoyed with us, but then one must consider that she may know better than we do how to manage this fragile ecosystem. The water system needs to be replenished; there are shortages for people and animals. The trees are beyond thirsty and losing ground because of insects and disease. All this rain has offered a reprieve.
There has always been weather -- some we like, and some we don't. Things they are a changing, but then that is life. As humans, our best quality is our ability to adapt. When the sun shines, make hay. When it rains, enjoy the show. My 4-year-old grandson reminded me of this when he figured out that he could "surf" across the back porch on the wet moss. I don't have the heart to tell him I'm pressure washing next week.
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