It is no secret that I love my lil City of Amsterdam, NY. Just this past February I wrote to you all about it here. Fast forward to just a little over a week ago. Hurricane Irene roared up the East Coast like a bat out of h e double hockey sticks. It was a lot of rain. The weather wasnt that bad really during the time the eye was over us. It was windy and rainy for the day. At about three the sun even looked like it was going to come out. Then the power went out. Over the next several hours the updates on facebook began to appear talking about a flood! Umm, excuse me? A flood? Yes, a flood. Thankfully, we have the best Mayor ever. She spent the entire night and next day updating all of us via facebook. Our local radio station WCSS and our newspaper Amsterdam Recorder also did excellent jobs keeping all of us updated on the pending flood and deteriorating road conditions. Our Fire Department and Police were amazing handling this very difficult situation. If by chance you are reading, Thank YOU, my family is truly grateful for all of you!
Around 7:30 Monday evening we were evacuated. Fortunately, we were able to secure a hotel room not too far from us. I have to say leaving our home was emotional. I never once feared losing my "stuff" but it was the unknown and the look on my children's faces that upset me the most. As we drove away, tears rolled down my face as the prayers went up. I spent most of the evening reading the updates from Mayor Thane via my Ipad. It was comforting to know she was there. The next morning I was more than anxious to get back home and just see what happened. The anticipation was too much for my heart. As I drove back into the City I could see the Mohawk River. Its new location was over the railroad tracks and onto the streets. I held my breath as I drove to my street. I knew that the street was ok earlier from a friends update, but surely without power would my basement be full? Did the river crest yet? Was there a breach at the dam? There were so many conflicting stories. As I drove into my driveway, I was relieved. No water. Now to check the power. My basement floods on heavy rain days. If there was no power to run the sump pump surely my basement would be under water. Fortunately, there was power. I opened the basement door and just a small trace of water that was drying. A sigh of relief and a prayer of thanksgiving. I knew I was fortunate but what about my neighbors? I grabbed the kids and walked around the corner. Life wasnt so easy for the rest of my City. There was water everywhere. The City's oldest building that holds our history was being ravaged by raging water. Families lost homes, others were without power for days, and local businesses were under water.
Finally the river was done doing its cresting and the dam was back to safe levels, this City began to clean up. People helping people everywhere. From cleaning debris to soup kitchens. This City shows up! That is why I love Amsterdam. I am proud to be apart of a community that cares about it's people. We will rebuild. We will overcome this difficult time. Small City Big Heart... Amsterdam!
I made this little video to show you a tiny glimpse of this story.
Great post Soul Sista! Love ya!!!
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