Minneapolis Flash Flooding 2010

This post is more for my mom than bird related.  Tonight we had some flash flooding.  Fortunately, Non Birding Bill and I have lived here long enough (and learned the hard way the first year we lived here) that the intersection near our home is prone to flash flooding.  Bless NBB's heart, he tried clearing out all the storm drains before the storm to prevent a flash flood, but it hit anyway.

When the worst of the storm was over I went downstairs to see if there was any flooding--there was more than I realized.  The police were already on the scene on Lyndale trying to divert traffic away from this street.

I waded to the infamous intersection that has a tendency to flood--it exceeded my expectations.  As I took this photo to show the water flooding 32nd and and Aldric and seeping into a neighbor's yard, I felt the water go from my toes to my mid-calf.  It was the first time I experienced how quickly a flash flood hits and why you see people stuck in trees or floating cars unawares--it does happen so fast.  Being a short woman around water rising quickly, I knew I needed to move.  Since the police were guiding traffic to avoid this intersection from Lyndale, I dashed towards 31st to warn people away.

I felt so bad for this car.  As someone who has had a car go through a flash flood in this intersection, I know what a nasty, stinky mess this car would be.  I felt bad for the owner of this vehicle--you could literally see it bob in the water.  I was so grateful that our car was parked in a spot that was not experiencing this level of flooding.

As I waded my through, I found more cars caught in the water in the pouring rain.  The red car's alarm was going off (and still is now a good three hours later).  Neighbors were coming out to gawk at this point and speculate who had a car in the water.  I made it to the end of the street and did my best to prevent cars from going down towards the flooded intersection.  I wasn't sure how long to stay, but when the rain subsided and visibility was better, I figured that drivers could see well enough and stop before reaching the flooded intersection--there was also quite a crowd gathered at this point as well (leave it to my neighborhood to turn a flash flood into a party).  Many were cheering the vehicles that were foolish enough to drive through the water (a moment that many SUV owners live for). NBB and I got a video of it here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZToej-b1ImY[/youtube]

So, mom, if you hear that there was flooding--yes, we got it in our neighborhood and no, our car or building was not affected.