Columbia SC flooding

Yep, I'm in Columbia. Thanks for thinking of me, Crank.
I was out vacuuming my flooded shop floor when Bandit alerted me i had been asked about. Holley and I are okay, at least compared to the rest of the areas that got hammered by this rain train. It's like a rain band from a hurricane except rather than sweeping across an area, it stays and sprays like a firehose. Though it's not produced by Joaquin, that storm is feeding the stalled rainy low off the coast. 60 miles north and south got nothing but a normal rainy day, but west, and east to the coast, we all got clobbered. In Columbia we've gotten 16.5 inches, 14 of that was since midnight. It's  been light this afternoon, but it's picking back up now and they forecast some more tonight and tomorrow morning.

Everything seemed okay until I went to heat a couple of sausage biscuits this morning, and water spilled out of the microwave oven when I opened the door . The shop was flooded from water coming in through the cinder block foundation. It happens in one corner sometimes, once every two to four years, so I shored it up with what I thought would stop it completely Ha!

In retrospect I should have put the corrugated sheet on the outflow end. But it doesn't matter, water came in everywhere.
I don't keep much stuff on the floor, and nothing that's absorbent, so that makes cleanup a whole lot less hair-pulling. Backbusting with the shop-vac after a while.


I figure all the painted models will be fine. But the Oriental was completely fixed, but totally bare wood ready for finishing, so I bagged it and brought it into the house. The power was off for a couple of hours, and when it came back on, my PC was dead. But we don't have any City water. That sucks. I'd much rather be without power.

Columbia is hilly and I live on a high point. Thank goodness. I'd make that a deal buster if I ever buy another house. A couple of dams, both on fairly significant waterways have broken down completely. But just the rain has put some areas up to the name on the tops of street signs. All of the Interstates  are closed in some spots. I-95 is closed for a long way. I'm not sure, maybe 30-40 miles. Down where my new friend Rich Malik(see flt. reports) lives, and Bob Z live is worse. It's supposed to clear up Monday night.

Well I have to go now and eat my electrically heated supper. and then go get some buckets of water out of the pool to boil for brushing and flushing. The pool water is crystal clear. In a couple of days it'll be green if I don't blast it tomorrow. And filtering for our coffee water... crap, I hear windblown rain whipping against the window.
Later,
Rusty

Note to self: Buy some rain boots.

Whew! Rusty, I just watched the news, holy cow your area got drenched and then some.
Thanks for letting us know your OK, wet but OK.

Yep, I've been hearing all about it on the news. Good to hear you're okay. When something happens down your way, I always think of you and my great uncle Larry who lives in NC.

Thanks. We're expecting to be without water for 3 days. Maybe a problem for dialysis patients and others.

No dialysis clinics have water today, even the hospitals are getting water to recycle from fire trucks. I luckily I watched my potassium intake since Friday, that's the most dangerous. But wish I'd been more conservative with my fluid intake. Got about 2.5 kilos on me now, but I can handle that. Just can't drink anything. Heavy rain and high winds today are expected to start uprooting trees in the soft soil.

Damn Rusty, That's terrible, but we know that you will hang tough. I have been following it on the news too.

Here in WV we haven't seen the sun in over 10 days, not even a shadow just constant rain and drizzle, but nothing like what you have been going though. Better days are coming this week for all of us.

Bob

Glad to hear you and Holley are Ok , hope things clear up there soon and you can get back to normal . The inconvenience can really be a downer ! We didn't get near what they thought at first and I am good with that . Hang in there friend . Eric

Good to know you weren't washed away after seeing those terrible pics and vids of people that were.
How is the recovery going?

crankbndr wrote:Good to know you weren't washed away after seeing those terrible pics and vids of people that were.
How is the recovery going?

Slowly. I'll try to add a proper reply later. Thanks for asking.
Rusty

I pm-ed Matt microflightdude a few days ago, and haven't heard back.
I guess he's without power.
Bob

dckrsn wrote:I pm-ed Matt microflightdude a few days ago, and haven't heard back.
I guess he's without power.
Bob

I haven't heard from Matt in ages. I'll text him and see if he's okay. I'm okay, just two bad colds between me and Holley. Hoping I'll be better for next weekend in H'ville. I'd sure hate to miss it, but there are Lots of people in dire circumstances. We were very lucky, living at a relatively high altitude in this area. Our club field at the fort is inaccessible until further notice.

I haven't heard about anyone sick from the water supply, but it has e-coli in it and probably lots of other stuff. It's deceivingly clear water to look at. They're still trying to repair the canal that feeds the purification plant. Chinooks are lowering 25,000 lb sandbags, and piling granite boulders on top to dam it up. We have plenty of granite here.

I got a full run at dialysis today, that's a relief, but they are processing city water. That's a little scary. I hope the tech staff knows what the hell they're doing. Hospitals are shutting down their water and sterilizing it in 24 hour processes, one at a time. We have several large hospitals in town. Wayne's neighborhood is on household septic systems, which are still below the water table. They have an athletic complex nearby for showers and other "Sh" things. So they have potable water, but can't wash bodies, dishes, clothes, etc.

The low country farther towards the coast is still swamped. We're epecting an inch or so of rain this weekend, but that should only be an added nuisance.

Too much to tell, but that's my installment for now.
Rusty

Ouch they are talking about rain this weekend again for me, it beginning to look like the fly a thon is a wash for me this year. oh well at least I got my S1 finished. I'm now starting on my dads ring now which is a sterling kit that he got back in the early 80's and it was old stock even then. going to try and have it flight ready by Christmas for him. Anyway glad you are doing ok man (Bandit)

Our flooding rain band was so narrow, Watt, Will, and Wayne were flying ringmasters up at Watt's field, 45 miles north of us while we were flooding. At least one of the Columbia gang got some official flights in. I couldn't have gone because I-77 was closed between here and there. But I wasn't going to leave Holley by herself with all that happening anyway.
Rusted Rusty

RknRusty wrote:Our flooding rain band was so narrow, Watt, Will, and Wayne were flying ringmasters up at Watt's field, 45 miles north of us while we were flooding. At least one of the Columbia gang got some official flights in. I couldn't have gone because I-77 was closed between here and there. But I wasn't going to leave Holley by herself with all that happening anyway.
Rusted Rusty

Yeah I don't blame ya, family is far more important than flying models. I'm glad she along with everyone else is ok.
We've got next year though, heck maybe we all can come together and rack up on some flights in 2016! never know.
(bandit)

Yeah, we'll call that a plan, all converge on my house for staging and caravan up to Watt's or Stuntersville.

Gee Rusty,

Tough times man, sorry to hear about your troubles. Especially the delayed dialysis.

I was relieved to hear from Matt(microflitedude) the other day.
I gave me the ok to post his reply. Gonna miss Matt, hope he
checks in once in a while. He sounds happy, and that's a good thing.
Bob

microflitedude

Thanks for checking in. As you can probably imagine this past week's weather has taken SC for a ride. I've been busy helping the affected remove fallen trees and move out of their destroyed homes. Aside from a few minor issues, my family and property have not sustained any significant damage.

This past year I have become much more dedicated to my guitar playing, and have given it priority over my other hobbies. I've got eight of them now, plucked off the side of the road or bought off Craigslist. I've been stripping them down and furnishing them with quality components. Cheap instruments can sound and feel pretty nice once you put forth the effort that others deem a waste a time. (which it very well may be, but I enjoy it nonetheless)

How are the #1 Cyl Babe Bee and R/C Medallion holding up?

Happy Flying,
-Matt