A Sunny Thursdsy
Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 6:36 am
Good Morning. Heard my name called yesterday, so figured I had better check in Thank you for your concerns. The flooding is about 100 miles south of me and it’s an unbelievable mess. Already high water levels and record rainfall, plus capacity of 3 dams to control the water are responsible. Those dams are holding back lakes. One dam failed, another one, despite having it’s gates wide open could not control the water which went over the dam spillways thus heading downriver. The other dam which is owned by a hydro electric company had it’s license revoked in 2018 by the FERC because although the dam was structurally adequate, they said it’s spillway was not Big enough to handle a flood. That dam was holding back a lake, whose property owners group was in process of buying It from the hydro company and planned to address the issues, but at present the dam is still owned by the hydro company. The state has been after the company to address the issue of the spillwayM so far nothing had been done. When all the water from upstream went into the lake, that of course raised the lake levels and all the water was going over the dam, because it couldn’t hold back the tremendous amount of water with it’s inadequate spillway., The dam gave way, sending the entire lake downstream, taking everything with It. People said they were watching houses, sheds, docks, boats, jet skis, propane tanks and all kinds of stuff floating down the lake and down the river. What’s left behind is a totally drained lake and stuff of every conceivable nature scattered all over the place down the river, plus destroyed homes, washed out foundations, damaged homes, mud, destroyed roads, downtown Midland underwater etc. They even had evacuate the hospital be ause it’s generators failed. One woman said, that her mother was in the hospital recovering from Covid and she has not heard a word as to where she is or anything since. Fortunately there were no lives lost. It was a tragedy that could have been voided have that dam been fixed right. Fortunately nobody died. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency for the area and the state will be seeking legal recourse.
In the meantime up here things are busy, as the Governor has given this region and the upper peninsula permission to reopen our businesses and restaurants. Some the restaurantS had been making preparations over the past couple weeks in anticipation of being give them the word eventually. Others are getting their act together. There are restrictions of course for both customers and the restaurants. They can only see 50% of their capacity so that’s taking some juggling around to accommodate that. Customers have to wear a facemask in the restaurants. So it’s going to be a learning curve for all of us. There are about three restaurants here in town that said they are not going to open until next week as they want a little more time to get ready. And we have a holiday weekend on top of it. There will be people who will be coming up for the weekend especially those who own second homes. But with nothing more than motels at the moment because rentals are not allowed to operate yet and no activities going on anywhere up here, campgrounds still closed Etc, I did not think there will be a tremendous amount of people coming up. plus the stay at home order is still in effect. We are the first two regions to be allowed to open in the state, so we said we got to get this right because we are the example for the rest of the state to follow. Supposedly there are some more changes coming on Friday.
So this morning I am going to go to town and do a little grocery shopping so I can avoid the Friday crunch. Few errands to run too. I am very with my landscaping projects right now and I have to say I am enjoying messing around out there. I spent last summer playing, so decided this summer it’s time to do some changing and other things around my house. Well wait until later this summer as far as camping is concerned.
So I am going to end this book here, finish my breakfast then be on my merry way. I hope you all have a nice day today. O’Sharon, you have warmer weather headed your way. Stay safe everyone.
In the meantime up here things are busy, as the Governor has given this region and the upper peninsula permission to reopen our businesses and restaurants. Some the restaurantS had been making preparations over the past couple weeks in anticipation of being give them the word eventually. Others are getting their act together. There are restrictions of course for both customers and the restaurants. They can only see 50% of their capacity so that’s taking some juggling around to accommodate that. Customers have to wear a facemask in the restaurants. So it’s going to be a learning curve for all of us. There are about three restaurants here in town that said they are not going to open until next week as they want a little more time to get ready. And we have a holiday weekend on top of it. There will be people who will be coming up for the weekend especially those who own second homes. But with nothing more than motels at the moment because rentals are not allowed to operate yet and no activities going on anywhere up here, campgrounds still closed Etc, I did not think there will be a tremendous amount of people coming up. plus the stay at home order is still in effect. We are the first two regions to be allowed to open in the state, so we said we got to get this right because we are the example for the rest of the state to follow. Supposedly there are some more changes coming on Friday.
So this morning I am going to go to town and do a little grocery shopping so I can avoid the Friday crunch. Few errands to run too. I am very with my landscaping projects right now and I have to say I am enjoying messing around out there. I spent last summer playing, so decided this summer it’s time to do some changing and other things around my house. Well wait until later this summer as far as camping is concerned.
So I am going to end this book here, finish my breakfast then be on my merry way. I hope you all have a nice day today. O’Sharon, you have warmer weather headed your way. Stay safe everyone.