A Flooding Red River

While we're waiting for the photographer to get the wedding pictures done,

we are having a flood in northwestern Louisiana.

This is the highest water our city has seen since 1945, exceeding the renowned flood of 1990.

The Red River runs right through our city and it crested today at 37 ft, which is 7 feet over flood stage.

 Flood waters are no respecter of persons.  There are those being affected who will be inconvenienced; some will lose "things" that can be replaced; others will lose treasured things that have no earthly value; and there are those who will lose everything they have with no way of replacing it.

 This neighborhood of million dollar plus homes was built inside the levy on the banks of the river.

The sheriff's home is not exempt either.  I understand the items on the right of the picture belonged to his father that he has treasured.  There are other items in his home that are irreplaceable.

Across town, folks who have no where to go and can least afford such loss are being forced out of their homes.

The other night Hubby and I went downtown to get a closeup look at the flooding.

 This is an amphitheater that is completely covered.

 As long as the current is flowing we are okay, but once it stops, we are in more trouble.

This Egret looked somewhat confused.

Streets are being closed due to the overflow.

There is a beautiful parkway that runs along each side of the river.  The following pictures show how far the river is out of its banks.  Fortunately, there are no homes in this area.

This is always a consequence of high water in the south.

We are told that although the river has crested, it will take a long time for this much water to recede.  Now the low marshy part of our state along the Mighty Mississippi will have to deal with all this water in the next few weeks.