"Rolling in the Deep"

Harrisburg Flood of 2011 

First, let me thank all of you for your concern and caring for our Family from last Friday.  After reading my own post Friday afternoon and all of your comments that came in quickly, I felt totally foolish for putting it out.  Like the local media, I over reacted to the situation.  Some predicted it to be the the third largest flood in Harrisburg history.  I doubted it then and I was right.  We, personally, came out untouched and not a drop of water appeared in my obsessively cleaned basement.

And although we weren't touched, those folks that rented U-hauls and trailers, were hit.  I mentioned that we were on a slight hill.  Three houses down and beyond had their basements totally flooded.  Most were prepared and others, well, not so much.  And areas like Hummelstown and Hershey were hit badly.  Your heart should go out to them.

I did remove my photos and hard-drive and left the other stuff down here to fend for itself.  As you know, I don't really care for material objects so had our basement been flooded, it would have sped up my de-cluttering project that I've been working on this year.  As I look around here right now, there is nothing that I would have cried over.  Okay Suz, maybe the bearded dragon but that's about it.  And I would only cry over that because Johnny would have cried.

After the storms on Friday, I grabbed Johnny and we headed out to take pictures.  What you are seeing in the photo above is Johnny walking though the park and Front Street on your left.  Obviously, closed for business.

The worst damage of the city occurred in Shipoke as mentioned before.  It is one of the most beautiful parts of the city but because they sit so low and near the river, they are hit almost once a year.  This year was worse.  And because of that, the police only allowed Residents in there.  So I have no photos of that area.  But really, how sick are you that you would even want to see them?  Sorry, I'm just having fun at your expense.  Thanks!

So even after a few days, I still wasn't allowed there.  The photos that you just saw and will see are of the rest of the low lying areas of Harrisburg in the few days after.  I won't tell you to enjoy the photos but please recognize that I recorded a little bit of history.

I'll comment here and there if needed.

My office is on this street.  There was no water on the streets in front of our office.  That's because our underground garage sucked it all up.  According to our Facilities Manager, it was knee high.  In fact, our campus took on a lot of damage and today at work was quite busy.  More so for our Facility Guys who worked all weekend.  And I mean "All" weekend.

These photos are of Riverfront park.  Well, what is left of Riverfront Park.  Usually, you can walk on a path under this bridge.  Unless ofcourse you are Homeless.  In which case you walk, sleep, eat, drink and urinate all year round.  Our Homeless are tough folk though.  That's how we raise them here in South Central PA.  We are considered South Central and I really like to say that often because I think it makes us sound bad-ass like an inner city gang.

Gay Pride was held in this spot in August.  Had it happened that week, I would have taken it as a sign.  But since it happened this week, I felt okay to keep on being Gay.

No going to Hershey Park this week.

Entrance to Shipoke

Once again, I wanted to get some photos of that area but the Police had it blocked off.  Mayor Thompson even indicated that if anyone, other than the residents, tried to enter the area, they would be arrested.  I was already to play the Race card but I had Johnny with me and didn't want to get into trouble.  Although I'm not even sure how to play the Race card game.  I suppose it would go something like this.

Me:  Can I get in?
Police Officer:  No!
Me:  Is it because I'm Black?
Officer:  You're Black?
Me:  I take offense to that!  Must I drop my drawers to prove it?
Officer:  Do it and I'll throw you over the back of this car and handcuff you!
Me:  Perv!

I guess that's how you play the Race card game.  Who knows!

Some more photos in no particular order.

Hi guys!

Oh "Deer"!

This poor thing was hiding in the brush along the riverbank.  I'm not sure how he ended up there but he was there.  As I was leaving, the police were arriving and I hope they helped him along.

The Barge, not DeBarge

This is part of the platform which holds musical performances throughout the summertime.  It's called The Barge Concerts.  When I first moved to the City in 1991, I thought they were calling it DeBarge Concerts.  And I thought, why would anyone swarm to see DeBarge perform?

City Island

We went to a baseball game here last month.  We didn't watch the game but still, it was nice to go there and the kids had a good time.

More of those cops

Street beside the Governor's mansion.

They were evacuated. 

The clean-up.

It's sad to see things that people once treasured being hauled out onto the streets and dumped into the back of these trucks.  There are piles everywhere.  Feel for these folks.  If you have everything destroyed, it doesn't matter how the Flood ranked in history.

So that's it!  Once again, we are fine and not even touched, this time.  So far this Summer, we've been hit by a Tornado, an Earthquake, a Hurricane and now this Flood.  What's next?  Hopefully DeBarge doesn't come to town.  But only Time Will Reveal.


I know, almost worse than the flood. And sadly, I looked just like this in 1984, Geri-curl and all!  But I was cool!  No I wasn't.

Your Friend, m.