Perhaps the American flag in the center of the photo should be upside down, but I'm guessing there wasn't time to do that.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Perspective
Maybe we should keep in mind what a disaster is. Yes, our taxes are high. Yes, we're indulging in quite a bit of neighbor to neighbor infighting. What we're fighting about is fixable. For some, fixable is a relative term.
Perhaps the American flag in the center of the photo should be upside down, but I'm guessing there wasn't time to do that.
Perhaps the American flag in the center of the photo should be upside down, but I'm guessing there wasn't time to do that.
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11 comments:
This does indeed put things in perspective. What a tragedy.
Anyone know how structurally sound our levee is? How often is it inspected? What work is needed to maintain it? Is maintenance up-to-date? I know the Island has flooded a few times in recent history but I'd hate for it to look like this photo if the levee came down.
Peter,
The floods came into the Ville through the backdoor, the canal. When the river got into the canal up in Yardley, it had a direct path down to Morrisville. It spilled over near the apartments, and flooded into the island area, filling in behind the levee. The creek that empties the overflow of the canal has a check valve (Flapper), but as the river was higher than this outlet, no water was able to drain into the river, forcing it onto the street and into the park. At no time did the water even come close to the top of the levee during any of the three floods.
Maybe if any developers come along to make proposals for construction on the "Island", there should be a pump station component required. As it was, when the canal overflowed several portable gas-engine powered pumps were used to drain the area. What protections could we provide if there was a properly engineered, permanently built facility to handle such problems?
Idea, while what you propose, regardless of developers, is a great idea, it would require foresight and planning, and therefore is not allowed within the borough's borders. When the first flood came down the canal, there were no pumps to be had, as they were all engaged elsewhere, so the flood got out of control. When this happened the second time, at least they were able to get the pumps in place before the flood completely overtook the area, and the damage was certainly minimized. Better canal management would also help, and I am hopeful that as it gets rebuilt, there are more spillways incorporated that will allow any overflows egress to the river without needing to rely on a submerged flapper in a flood.
Anonymous,
Thanks for the reply. I am aware of how it flooded the last time. I am asking a rhetorical "what if" question. What if it did not come in through the back door, and what if there were no new pumps installed? So, my question is, given the recent history of Katrina and now Iowa, will our levee hold? Is it being maintained? Should we be thinking about future maintenance?
Who "owns" the levee? Is it Morrisville? The state? The feds? I believe it was built by the Army Corp of Engineers -- does that make it federal? And therefore, who is responsible for the upkeep?
I agree with "Idea" that pumps and/or sufficient drainage need to be part of any business proposal to build in that area.
So, Peter, do you really think that "responsibility" for the canal would prompt our esteemed high public officials to concern themselves with something so mundane as the wall that keeps the river out of the town? They have important things on which to spend their time. Things like approving subdivisions of individual property, and approving or denying the efforts of others. To research and follow up on something as mundane as a levee would be so....so...so... well you know what I mean, so "Je ne c'est quoi."
...nevermind that they live on high ground, or in ivory towers, or... in Grandview estates (said with nose high in the air).
"So, Peter, do you really think that "responsibility" for the canal would prompt our esteemed high public officials to concern themselves with something so mundane as the wall that keeps the river out of the town?"
Well, yeah, I do. I'd like to think that they have been watching or reading the news and thinking, OMG, this could happen here. And that even the most icy heart would look at those pictures, like the one on this blog, and [1] feel compassion for those poor folks and [2] feel a sense of responsibility for those that they serve and take action if action is warranted.
Council, if you are reading, please do check into this before it happens here.
Perhaps I'm naive. But to me, this flood is bigger than politics.
Or have I lost my "perspective"?
And, if anyone happened to read the police blotter in today's BCCT, you will note that 4 juveniles were arrested for tearing up pavers on the levee and tossing them in the river. We've all heard the story of the boy with a finger in the dike, but this was just the opposite. I wonder if the levee failed at that point, whether these 4 kids would be liable for the damage to the town. The unfortunate side effect of things like this is that the council could close off the levee to people, thus depriving us of one more spot where we actually have public access to the river. It seems that most of the shores are private property, so while the river itself is open, it is harder and harder to get to it.
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break, [X2]
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay.
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan, [X2]
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home,
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well.
Don't it make you feel bad
When you're tryin' to find your way home,
You don't know which way to go?
If you're goin' down South
They go no work to do,
If you don't know about Chicago.
Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.
All last night sat on the levee and moaned, [X2]
Thinkin' about me baby and my happy home.
Going, going to Chicago... Going to Chicago... Sorry but I can't take you...
Going down... going down now... going down....
OK, I'll bite:
It is the springtime of my loving - the second season I am to know
You are the sunlight in my growing - so little warmth I've felt before.
It isn't hard to feel me glowing - I watched the fire that grew so low.
It is the summer of my smiles - flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.
Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.
Ain't so hard to recognize - These things are clear to all from
time to time.
Talk Talk - I've felt the coldness of my winter
I never thought it would ever go. I cursed the gloom that set upon us...
But I know that I love you so
These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion - I seek the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall...It's just a little rain...
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