Is it just me?

Or does the fact that entire trees (roots and all) are flying over a dam about 2 miles from my home make you feel a little crazy?

Up until a few minutes ago I never realized why people live in Flood Areas.

I live very close to a flood area but on top of a hill so that pretty much them thar flood waters will never reach our home BUT my mother in law is not so lucky. She lives in a home approximately 1 mile from ours in a 100-year-flood zone.

As luck would have it this is the second time in as many years that her home will be flooded. And by "flooded" I mean that every vehicle she owns (there are many), the lawnmower and garage contents will be at stake plus any items she may be storing under her house where it has been "raised" so that the actual contents in her home are safer. Not to mention the fact that if she wishes to actually get home once the river has flooded (or even before, really) she will have to do so by boat.

I know you people are probably thinking why do people continue to live in flood areas? It just doesn't make sense. Well, now, for me it kind of does. First of all my MIL lives in a 100-year-flood zone which if you can't read between the lines means that the river is only supposed to flood every 100 years or so BUT you know twice in as many years is almost the same thing.

No flood water has ever entered home as long as she has lived there. The contents of the garage has been lost. You know, whether we all like to admit it sometimes things very important to us end up in the garage, even heirlooms. So, yeah, despite "appearing" like nothing really happened it did. Let us not even talk about the garbage and debris that litter the area once the river recedes. But, like I said, it is probably really hard for people to understand why anyone would live in a flood zone.

But, it's her home.

Once floods happen people don't too soon forget which makes selling said home difficult. Plus, heaven forbid, her home actually float down the river the insurance only insures the home, which is only a portion of the cost of a home that comes with land.

So, please know her 100-year-flood zone home is under attack for the second time since purchasing it in 2004.

We've moved all the vehicles, the lawnmower and her dog to higher ground.

Please pray that she will not be rowing the streets tomorrow to inspect the damage.

Also? Let this serve as a warning to anyone assuming the prospective flood zone home they may be considering purchasing that a 100-year-flood zone does not mean squat!