Account of flood by Diane Wade - 6 Stanhope County Basement Clerk --

"It was the highest and probably the most disastrous flood that ever came down the Backstairs River within a hundred years.

Early in the morning hours of August 8, rain commenced falling and so continued steadily for several hours. Due to a blocked drain just outside the basement door of 6 Stanhope Street in Bushwick Brooklyn, the stream commenced gradually rising, but no apprehension was felt of the heavy overflow because we were asleep.

By 7 AM, a tremendous flood had come pouring over the lip of the door frame, overflowing all the lowlands and spreading over the valleys to the hills. The river rose to the bluffs. The people thought the highest was reached, but the water continued to rise rapidly, and much alarm was felt.

The rise was estimated at forty-six ft. The mass of waters rushed down from the narrow and confined channel of Diane's room, through to the hallway, into the Landlord's supply closet, and into Stephanie's room, with such fearful velocity that the middle of the stream was higher than the sides, and the aspect it presented was appalling.

More than 5 pairs of boots were rescued from drowning in the closets (though, at least 6 pair did not survive, and 2 are still on the fence), while many hundreds of spiders and creepy crawlies fled to conditions less dangerous. There was an estimated 300 boxes of beloved papers, fabric, and crafting supplies destroyed, who were sleeping in the under the tables and in other tucked away corners on the floors.
At the moment, refugees have taken shelter in the sunny backyard, but, cruelly, the weather does not seem to want to co-operate with the sad, soggy, sisters. Rain and showers have been forcasted for the next three days (so those iffy boots are probably goners!)

The landlady was called and arrived on the scene at 7:15 to help mop up the mess and to direct the recovery clean-up. She delivered many words of wisdom and a lecture or two about proper drain care."

Report made at 1:16, 8/8/07, during a much needed coffee break
6 Stanhope Street - Apt. 1R - upstairs (cause ... you know .. our basement was FLOODED!!! and is still soggy)


You can expect the mildew report in a few days