Freezing Water by Veronica Frost

Friday 8 june. It has been raining heavily for hours. Mum had been down for a visit with the baby and decided to go on home because it was too wet to go to the shops. An hour later I noticed the water getting quite deep in the yard and took a couple of photos at the novelty of it. I had no idea what was to come. I spoke to Tere and the call dropped out after I told him it was hard to hear him over the noise of the thunder and torrential rain. Then Ispoke to mum and told her about the overflowing stormwater drain I could see over my back fence, Iremember saying "maybe we should get out of here, the water is rising". Alas, I stayed, thinking once the storm passes the water will recede. In a way, I was right. Not long after this conversation, the sun came out and the water drained away. Oh, the hindsight!

The following occurs within 2 hours of the afore mention storm passing. The rain started up again, the water in my yard started to rise and so my solo bin floated up to my back door. Now I started to get in evacuation mode. Just in case. I gathered all my valuable belongings - Passport, baby's birth certificate, my purse and phone and keys, the nappy bag (stocked with as much baby needs as it would carry), and a change of clothes for me - all in plastic bags so they wouldn't get wet. By now the water is rising steadily and it becomes more of a distinct possibility we may in fact have to evacuate. My dad came knocking on my front door, wading in the water up to his back pockets, and says "Geez Ron, it's pretty close!" Yes indeed, it was up to the top step now.

We decided that I would go to their house for the night. While Dad went home to get Mum, who was oblivious to my dire situation, to help carry stuff. In the meantime, I got everything up off the floor, packed some more essentials (undies, ugg boots, baby's breast milk from the freezer) and turned off all the power points. Unfortunately it was already too late to save my car which had water up to the top of it's tyres. I didn't panic, I was ready. I figured all that will happen is we get wet, right? So baby and I sat on the futon and waited for Mum and Dad to come back. I wondered why it was taking so long. Of course, it didn't realise that where I was had become inaccessible and they actually couldn't get to me from their house. But Dad found a way out the back through Wallsend and managed to stop my mum from attempting to swim through the raging flood water down Bluegum Rd to rescue us.

So finally they make it and I welcome them into my home, not minding that they were soaked up to their waist in the filthy, freezing water because the carpet and kitchen lino was already floating under our feet. The first order of business was to calm my hysterical mother and assure her we were all fine, just cold and wet, she was almost actually beside herself with worry. The next thing to do was get some photos, just in case we all got amnesia and forgot what my loungeroom floor looked like under 5 inches of water. So it was time to leave. I bundled up my bemused 10 week old son and stepped out into the (again I'm going to mention freezing) water. We had to feel our way with our feet because the water was muddy and it was dark by now. We checked on the neighbours on the way and they all said they would stay as they had nowhere else to go and the waters were holding. We left them saying we would send help, which we did. At the end of the driveway onto the street the current was so strong it almost swept me off my feet. Finally we were out of immediate danger and made our way back to Mum and Dads to warm up. We were all safe.

My flat is uninhabitable, my car has been taken away, and baby and I are still sleeping at Mum and Dads. I must mention my wonderful brother who drove up from Sydney the next day to get involved and help get us organised. He helped us cope with the stress of the situation with his quick wit and light hearted humour.

It's great how we come together to help people in times of need. I am grateful that I am one of those lucky people and have an amazing family. Some are not so fortunate.

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