[A/S] FLOODED AIRSTREAM INCIDENT- SUMMER OF 1997

["Richard Dorsten" <richarddorsten@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I HAD HEARD ABOUT FLASH FLOODS, BUT NEVER COULD BELIEVE WATER COULD 
RISE SO FAST AND FILL A 10 FOOT OR DEEPER CREEK. FROM THE TOP OF 
BANKS TO THE TOP OF WATER, BEFORE IT STARTED RAINING, IT WAS AT 
LEAST 10 FOOT THAT THE WATER HAD TO RISE BEFORE COMING OVER THE TOP. 
BY THE WAY WE WHERE AT A BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. IT 
STARTED TO RAIN ABOUT 6:OO PM AND RAINED AS HARD AS IT COULD FOR 2 
HOURS AND QUIT. SEVERAL OF US CHECKED THE CREEK OUT AND IT HADN'T 
ROSE A BIT. WE THOUGHT, HEY NO PROBLEM. IT STARTED RAINING AGAIN AT 
ABOUT 9:00PM. i HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH LIGHTNING IN MY LIFE, IT WAS 
UNREAL. AT ABOUT 12:OO MY BROTHER- IN-LAW LOOKED OUT AND SAID THE 
WATER WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS CAR DOOR. I JUMPED OUT OF BED AND GOT 
IN MY SUBURBAN AND BACKED UP TO THE TRAILER AND EVERYONE GOT IN AND 
WE DROVE TO HIGHER GROUND. THE WATER WAS RISING SO FAST THAT BY THE 
TIME I BACKED UP TO THE TRAILER THE TOP STEP WAS UNDER WATER AND 
WHEN I LEFT TO GET THE TRUCK IT WAS STILL VISIBLE. I PUSHED WATER 
WITH MY BUMPER GETTING OUT. I WAS JUST GLAD THAT I NEW WHERE THE 
ROAD WAS. I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH LONGER IT RAINED, BUT IN THE 
MORNING YOU COULD NOT SEE THE TIRES ON THE TRAILER. WHEN WE WHERE 
ABLE TO GO BACK IN, I OPENED THE DOOR AND THERE WAS NO WATER, BUT 
THERE WAS ABOUT A 10" WATER LINE INSIDE WHERE IT HAD BEEN, AND A LOT 
OF STINKING MUD, AND I MEAN STINKING. MY WIFE, BLESS HER HEART,HAD 
GRABBED MY MARTIN GUITAR OFF THE FLOOR AND PUT IT ON TOP OF STOVE,AS 
SHE EXITED THE TRAILER. IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED, I WOULD 
REALLY HAVE BEEN SICK. IT IS HARD TO REPLACE A GREAT SOUNDING 
INSTRUMENT. BUT BACK TO THE TRAILER. OH BY THE WAY WHEN MY BROTHER 
IN LAW OPENED HIS GLOVE BOX, IN HIS ESCORT, WATER RUN OUT. HE WASN'T 
TO HAPPY EITHER. WE COULD NOT SEE HIS CAR, BECAUSE IT WAS CONCEALED 
FROM SIGHT BY A GARAGE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN REALLY UNDER WATER.  
RESTING ON THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER WAS A LOG ABOUT 15" IN DIAMETER. 
THE FLOOD HAPPENED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND IT WAS NOT DRY ENOUGH TO 
PULL THE TRAILER OUT UNTIL TUESDAY. IF THE FLOOD COULD NOT HAVE BEEN 
BAD ENOUGH, I ALMOST LOST IT ON THE WAY HOME,BECAUSE ALL THAT WATER 
THAT WAS SOAKED UP IN THE INSULATION, RUN TO THE BACK AND IT WAS 
TRYING TO SWAY ON ME, BUT I MADE IT HOME AND AND STARTED THE 
REBUILDING PROCESS, AFTER IN ADJUSTER GAVE ME THE GO AHEAD. I TRULY 
HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR RUNNING WATER IN CREEKS, RIVERS AND LAKES. 
I DON'T EVER WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN OTHER FLOOD.IT WAS LUCKY THAT 
THERE WHERE NO CASUALTY'S, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THERE. 
THE TRAILER ENDED UP BEING A COMPLETE REMODELING,INCLUDING 
WALLPAPER, CARPET, FURNACE,LARGER REFRIGERATOR AND NEW CABINET TO 
PUT IT IN AND A LOT OF SMALL THINGS,PLUS A LOT OF SCRUBBING AND 
MOPPING.I DROPPED THE WHOLE BELLY METAL PAN AND REMOVED THE 
INSULATION AND JUST LET IT SIT THERE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO DRY OUT. 
THE ADJUSTER COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN I GOT DONE. 
WELL THAT IS THE STORY OF THE FLOOD OF 97. COULD BE SONG A THERE, 
NAH!!! RICHARD IN SOUTHWEST OHIO