It was at the very edge of the water, where the water was only about 6 inches deep. We had to jump to get to it. The water behind me was about 4 to 5 feet deep. Around our science building, it was 12-15 feet deep.
So guess what the school does on that patch of land where the water was the deepest? Goes and builds a multi-million dollar science and technology building that they claim will be "flood-resistant". Ummmm...no logic in building that thing on a 100-year flood plain now, is there? If this storm comes close enough, I guess they'll get to test the building's resistance.
This may be a drier hurricane than Floyd was;if so, good.
I like that term: "Flood-resistant." Flood-resistant implies that at some point, the flood protection will fail and all that nice equipment will get up close and personal with the water. The only way to go is "flood-PROOF," like finding a higher place to build. Sheesh.
12-15 feet, yikes! What did you do - swim to work? I'd hate to be that poor asshole on the first floor whose data just got iced.
School was closed for three weeks. The basement and up to the landing of the basement stairs connecting the first floor was flooded. The school ordered all students home when the power had been out for about 48 hours and the main substation's switch was about to go under.
Our science building was up on a little hill too, so I imagine 12 feet was a conservative estimate for one level and half of another to be wiped out.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2003-09-16 10:46 am (UTC)Here's what it looked like when Floyd came through in '99. Yep, it's me standing on that patch of grass amidst the water...
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Date: 2003-09-16 10:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-09-16 11:06 am (UTC)So guess what the school does on that patch of land where the water was the deepest? Goes and builds a multi-million dollar science and technology building that they claim will be "flood-resistant". Ummmm...no logic in building that thing on a 100-year flood plain now, is there? If this storm comes close enough, I guess they'll get to test the building's resistance.
This may be a drier hurricane than Floyd was;if so, good.
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Date: 2003-09-16 11:17 am (UTC)12-15 feet, yikes! What did you do - swim to work? I'd hate to be that poor asshole on the first floor whose data just got iced.
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Date: 2003-09-16 11:48 am (UTC)Our science building was up on a little hill too, so I imagine 12 feet was a conservative estimate for one level and half of another to be wiped out.