inundated...

... still from copious rains of the stalled system that continues to dump rain in the Chattahoochee River valley area, along the Georgia and Alabama state lines. We've had more than enough to make up for diminished rainfall in recent weeks, with the ground so sodden it will take days of sunshine to dry out. All the creeks and watershed lakes are overflowing, with water standing in places you would otherwise never see puddles - appearing to be shallow lakes from creeks overflowing and filling low lying areas.

I sat here most of the morning at my computer, just two feet away from a big window that faces north. I can see the intersection of two streets, both of which are usually bustling with traffic, especially early in the mornings during commuter hours and school carpool times. Schools are finished for the year, students got out earlier this week, so it should be considerably slower traffic wise until the two neighborhood schools start up again in August.

What happened here today, after the prodigious rains of the past twenty four hours, is a lesson in humanity. My attention was captured this morning by the number of people who put their brains on auto-pilot when they got in their vehicles, headed in to the workplace. There was a big orange barrel placed in the middle of the south bound lane, at the intersection, indicating cars should not be going that way. But no actual sign telling them the road was closed, due to flooding. So hundreds and hundreds of drivers maneuvered around the plastic hazard, only to crest the hill and see muddy water that might or might not be too deep to traverse. The Man Who Lives Here reported seeing some pick-up trucks go headlong down the hill and not return, so perhaps the water level is going down.

All those drivers persisted in making that left turn to head south, going down the street to the point where they could see the street completely impassable. Whereupon they made U-turns in various driveways to take the long way to work or shopping. It was quite amusing to see them come back and take the road less traveled as they realized they could not get through the water in order to head to town.

Since that time, the city has put up a more 'official' barricade, with white painted saw-horses, complete with red, reflective striped tape, as well as a sign that very plainly states: Road Closed. Looking far more business-like than the random orange striped plastic barrel, and obviously more likely to divert to traffic. Most of the vehicles that stop at the corner, appear to be pretty obedient citizens, willing to make a right turn to go around both elbows in order to get to their destinations: work, restaurants or shopping. I can almost hear them, up there on the corner, as they come to a stop at the intersection, read the sign and ponder: 'should I?' Should I really pay attention, believe the sign and take back roads to get to my destination? Should I disregard the sign, drive around the barricade and take my chances? Most seem to be lacking the dare-devil gene, and putter on along their way, safe and dry.