The Big Rain

daily haiku

rains came for a week
heavy flooding mayhem roads closed
hidden treasure green

It's been quite a week - I am happy that I live in Birney and on a hill. Last weekend heavy rains started and continued for almost the whole week. The leaks resulting from last July's storm were active but not too bad (as yet). On Monday all roads were closed - a good time not to have a medical emergency; the road to Sheridan opened on Tuesday and by Thursday all roads were passable once more.

All around SE Montana flooding hurt people and homes, the Crow Tribe was badly hit and there are now National Guard helping there. National Guards are also in Roundup where the Busy Bee cafe is under water and most of the town as well. The Busy Bee is a community hub. Neighbors meet there to have a cup of Joe and exchange news - Bill Clinton held court there when he was running for 2nd term presidency, so without it there is no place to commiserate with each other over all that has occurred in the floods.

Here in Birney the river is very high and water is now pouring over the old spillway at the Tongue River reservoir. There is a second spillway that will take extra water for a one-hundred-year flood - hope it does not come into use! However with temps forecast to go to 80's this week, there may be snow melt pounding down Goose Creek and into the Tongue River causing more difficulties.

Life is never dull here on the hill and a lot of my thinking and writing often revolves around the weather. I suppose it'll be mosquito season by the end of the week!