So it all started at about 4 am when I woke up because of the storm. The kids, of course, had woken up and were scared because of the storm. So we went into the kids rooms to go back to sleep.
Then I got up around 7 am and started getting ready for the day because I had a dr. appointment this am. I left my house around 9 for my appointment (alone, thank goodness). It was pouring rain outside. As I started driving I noticed there was a lot of standing water on the roads. The rain gutters were full and so water did not seem to be draining. As I approached one intersection there was so much water that everyone was turning around and going another way....I did the same. I then called Skip and told him the roads were really bad and I was nervous driving. Like he always does he reassured me that I would be fine. So I kept driving. I had driven past the YMCA and the Zoo on W38th Street for those of you who know where that is. I then was going down the hill to Glenwood St. There was standing water in the intersection, but other cars were going through it so I thought it will be fine. I waited up higher where there was not as much water and was waiting for the light to turn green. ****There were a few things that I know now that I didn’t know then***It was pouring rain and the visibility was really low. The river just next to this intersection had begun overflowing on to the streets and was getting really bad really fast. As the light turned green I just barely started to go when water rushed up and over the hood of my car. The engine/windows/lights/ etc. all immediately went out.
I was kind of panicking because the car had stalled so I call Skip...I was only on the phone with him for a second before water started rushing in at my feet. I told him to call 911 (funny that I called him and told him to call 911, I don’t think you think very clearly in situations like this, he told me to hang up with him and to call.) I called 911. One scary thing is how long it took them to pick up. I guess all of Erie was flooding and there were tons and tons of calls pouring into 911. I tell them that my car is not working and is flooding. I was told to remain in my car....scary....The current was really strong and so they told me to no mater what stay in my car. By this time there is an unmarked cop car, with a light thrown up on top, up on higher ground and he is waving to me. I am trying to figure out how this is suppose to make me feel better having this cop who is so far away waving at me....What is he going to do when my car is completely full of water. 911 tells me fire trucks are on there way...I am totally freaking out at this point. Water is to about my knees, while sitting in my car. The firemen get there and have to put all there safety measures in place before coming after me. About five firemen then get to my door. They have to get the car door open because windows and nothing else is working. Finally they get my door open....as water is rushing in to fill the car....they grab me.
I am then taken to the fire truck on higher ground. They leave me in the truck to go rescue other people. There are five cars in the same situation in the same intersection. They had gotten me first because my car was filling the fastest. Other people were then brought to the fire truck. One interesting thing is that while I was sitting alone in the fire truck I could hear the radios the whole time.....it was things such as "man attempted to exit car at this intersection...is now completely in the water, other cars flooding, houses flooding", etc. etc. When the firemen got everyone that was in immediate danger out we were taken back to the fire station.
It took Skip about an hour to get from our house to the fire station, which would normally take 10 minutes. We have since spent the day dealing with our flooding basement and our insurance company. Skips car still remains submerged at that intersection. They have to let the water go down before they will allow tow trucks into the area. Our insurance company has basically told us that our car will be totaled but they have not gotten the car out or inspected it. This has truly been a horrible day.
Reflection
I am so incredibly thankful that I did not have any of my kids with me during this experience. I can not even imagine trying to think through having to save my three kids with rushing water filling the car. It also would have taken way more fire men to get four people out of the car because they have to grab you all at the same time because once they opened the door the water rushed in quickly. I also need to tell myself that I am very fortunate because I am physically okay (emotionally not so much) and that it is only a car that is ruined.
The first thing we did when we got to DC was to go to the Smithsonian Museums. Grandpa and Nana took Casen and Jace and went to the Air and Space Museum while Skip and I went to the Holocaust Museum. This museum was definitely not a place for kids. It was very educational but also very very graphic. I can not believe that anyone could do such crimes against people. This was very sad. 
Lincoln Memorial Monument
Arlington Cemetery
Here is the family in front of the Reflection Pond. As you can see we have two sleeping children (Jace and Cora). We had worn them out by this point.
Grandpa, Nana, and the boys in front of the White House.
Here we are at the entrance to Chocolate World. We are soooo excited. Anything with chocolate has to be great!
After our tour on how chocolate is made the boys decided to test out their skills. Here is Casen working with the Hershey kisses.
Both boys learning how to package the kisses.
Our youngest Hershey Factory Worker.
Here is the family at Hershey Park (sorry the picture is so dark).
Grandpa, Nana, and the kids. This is where you measure how tall you are and then you have a candy bar assigned to you (this helps determine what rides you are tall enough to ride). Casen was a Hershey bar. He is our little dare devil.....anything they let him ride, he will ride. He rode several roller coasters, some of which went upside down and everything.
Here is Grandpa and Casen Followed by Skip and Jace.
Here is a couple of pictures of the family at the Pennsylvania Monument. This is one of the most grand monuments at Gettysburg (If you look really close in the first picture you can see us standing at top of the monument)
Here are the boys trying to figure out how the cannon worked.
Here is a picture of Grandpa and the boys at Gettysburg.
Blurbs
8 years ago
