The cleanup has begun here. It is totally devastating. In our own neighborhood, which is not near the river, the pressure of the water on the sewage and drainage system burst pipes in many homes, ours included.
Many of our friends and neighbors are still displaced. We still have sections of town that are evacuated due to electrical and gas concerns. The sewage treatment plant is under water.
Our friends and neighbors north of us in NY state are experiencing total devastation as well. As much as 90% of businesses were flooded.
Some people may not be able to return to what is left of their homes until Monday.
Many people here do not have flood insurance because it is either to expensive, or like us, don't live near enough to the river to warrant the cost. These people may never fully recover.
We have a tiny place called the Cannon Hole which is home to many poor people. They can't afford to replace or rebuild their homes. In some places, the code officer must approve a return to homes and they may not be allowed to go home.
We also had a large number of people who were living in tents due to the high cost of housing here. Those people are completely displaced.
It is really terrible here.
I don't know how we are going to recover from our minor damage. I can not even imagine what others with catastrophic damage must be facing.
Many people's family businesses have been damaged so greatly that they may not recover. Farms have been washed out. Our potatoes, tomatoes, and apples are all gone.
This will effect our economy is so many ways.
Please pray for us and all our neighbors.
One lesson we took away from this is the necessity to have access to a water supply and a means for purification during the Chastisement.