Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

...we had this epic flood. Last week it rained....and rained, then the sky opened and torrential downpours brought all the streams, rivers, lakes and even aquifers and springs up to record-breaking levels in minutes. The damage in Cobb, Paulding and Douglas was horrific. Some bridges and and roads are still closed because they simply are no more. Today Mike and I helped out at Church of the Good Shepherd at 6216 Love St. in Austell, GA., if you want to Mapquest it and go down there, yourself to help out. Notice the mudline on the bushes to the right of the house. And there is mud on the roof, so this one is condemned, but there are many just like this and some worse, actually lifted off their foundations, All of this with no wind, no huricane, just rain. A whole lotta rain!!

The lady in pink has been keeping the church open so that flood victims can come by and pick up clothing, food, cleaning supplies, children's things, blankets, etc. Often, she simply keeps it open so folks have a place just to sit under a roof, in a clean, mildew-free ambience and eat a hot meal or simply rest and chat. Miraculously, this church was spared, even though it's right in the midst of the stricken neighborhood. Today she was interviewed by Fox News.

This little lady in brown has been on several news channels. Her home, (just a block from Good Shepherd, so use GS's Mapquest address to drive to this location to help) is situated just a tad higher than most on her street and was also spared. As a result, she is running a grass roots distribution center in her yard and it's really taken off. She and her helpers du jour are there from 8 am until dark and she also cooks and feeds her stricken neighbors.

FLOOD NEEDS:

Good Shepherd: Shoes for kids and adults, especially sneakers and water proof shoes. Laundry deterg, bleach and cleaning supplies, food, toiletries.

Micki's Front Yard Center: tarps, canopies, HELPERS, HELPERS, HELPERS! Anytime!

The Survivors: All of the above, plus tents, tarps, camping stuff, inclement weather stuff because it's getting cooler and sooner or later, it's gonna rain again, everything and folks just to sit with them and give them hugs and hope.