Unseen Passage for Class 5 - Passage 04

Experiencing a natural disaster firsthand is very different from reading about weather in books. Although the flood wasn't severe, I wasn't prepared for the reality of it all.

The events unfolded two days ago. It was a typical rainy day, much like any other I can recall. However, I noticed the growing anxiety among the adults. I started paying closer attention to the news, whether at home or in public places. Meteorologists repeatedly emphasized that the rain had been relentless and showed no signs of stopping. I didn't fully comprehend what it meant for us, as my mom always emphasized the benefits of rain for plants. However, the next morning brought clarity.

When I woke up and went downstairs for breakfast, neither of my parents were at the kitchen table, and the entire house was devoid of light. Puzzled, I reached for the milk, only to find a note on the refrigerator instructing me not to open it. As I contemplated my breakfast options, the sound of rain persisted, and peculiar noises emanated from the basement. Curiosity propelled me to investigate. Peeking through the basement door, I was taken aback. Water had flooded the basement, albeit not excessively. Toys and various objects were floating amidst the water. I could hear my parents' voices from below.

"Hello? What's happening down there?" I called out.

"Good morning, Alex. The continuous rain has caused some problems. The entire town is grappling with power outages, flooded basements, and waterlogged roads. Many houses are also affected," Dad responded.

The minor flooding didn't appear too alarming, considering previous power outages. I assumed my parents were handling the situation. Overhearing their conversation about using a pump to remove the water, I retreated to my room to play.

After a while, Mom and Dad returned upstairs, changed their clothes, and sanitized their hands. I approached them, seeking an explanation.

"Well, we managed to manually pump out the water, but the basement sustained some damage. Once the power is restored, we'll try to dry it using fans. However, we might need to replace the drywall and some items that got wet. It's quite a mess," Mom explained. "We also need to look into getting a generator, as it seems the power will remain out for the rest of the day."

Curious about the situation in our town, we embarked on a drive to assess the conditions. Numerous roads were closed due to flooding, preventing us from reaching the store. One bridge over the river was shut down as water gushed over it. Houses near the river appeared submerged. We stopped to assist people filling sandbags to protect their properties. They informed us that neighbors across the street had sought refuge in another town with relatives until their house could be repaired. The flood's far-reaching impact astonished me.

Once we finished helping with the sandbags, we headed back home.

"I can't believe those people lost all their belongings. We should go through our things and see what we can donate. We're fortunate that our basement had only a few inches of water; it could have been much worse," Dad remarked. Mom and I agreed. Despite the lack of power and potential expenses to repair the basement, we considered ourselves lucky.