I know how Noah Feels

Yesterday was Hell Day. I felt like Kevin Costner in Waterworld: I played in water and watched dollars signs evaporate! Kingston had a record rainfall: 137 mm. The previous record was 129 mm in 1979. Consequently, my finished basement was flooded with 8 inches of water. The sheer volume of water coming into the sump pump pit from the footing drain overwhelmed my sump-pump system. I have two sump pumps and they both could not keep up. I estimate it was coming into the house at approximately 4 gallons per minute! Crazy eh?! My belongings likely spend about 12 hours under water. After coming home from work at 4pm, I spent nine back-aching hours trudging through the water and trying to salvage everything I could. There's huge damage: the walls will have to be cut open and insulation removed, all the furniture is damaged, and the status of the major appliances such as washer, water heater and furnace is yet unknown. Joy! Luckily, my insurance company will cover it. So I'll be spending the weekend making lists and stuff. What a drag. I had the presence of mind to take some photos, so when I develop them, I'll post one or two here.

Bleck!