Aug. 11, 2006 - Water World
We have a pool You have seen it before. It's the kind that Wal-Mart sells for $99 or $69 on sale at Toys R Us....the soft-sided "Simple Set" pool.
Our pool is on our patio, directly outside of our kitchen window and directly above our basement window-well....
A month or so ago, we overfilled the pool and it began a small Niagara Falls over the side. The window-well FILLED with water, very rapidly, and then it began seeping through. But that good little window held strong and I was able to stop the flow with a bunch of beach towels and blankets. Nothing major, all was well.
Yesterday, we overfilled the pool again. This is not intentional, mind you. One of my precious children left the hose in the pool with the water running. It overflowed again, only this time, that precious window did not hold back the torrent. With hope, I ran down the basement steps with three big beach towels in tow and just stopped, defeated. A tidal wave flowed through the window, burst open by the force, and filled our basement -- our carpeted, finished basement -- with about 3 inches of water. Sigh.
We began the tedious task of removing all of our belongings: toys, books, bookshelves, scrapbooking stuff, treadmill, piano!, futon, more toys, more books.
As my hubby and I were carrying something out, IT OVERFLOWED AGAIN. Another 3 inches of water hit the floor. Another one of our dear children thought that Daddy wanted the pool filled up again...and left the hose in the pool with the water running.
I have a new appreciation and sympathy for anyone who has ever been in a flood. I am thankful that this water was chlorinated and not sewage....
I am thankful that nothing was really damaged. I rescued my pictures hanging on the wall first and then my scrapbook stuff which was all on high ground anyway. The treadmill still needs to be tested to see if it still functions. That would probably be the most expensive thing in the room....it's a good one...cost more than the carpet! I can always get another piano....everyone tries to give those away.
So we rented a water extractor and sucked water out of the carpet for 5 hours. As I write, there are 5 dehumidifiers running and 2 fans and an "Air Mover". An Air Mover is a very cool piece of equipment. It is round with a long alligator-type clip on it and a blower-thingy under the clip. You pick up one edge of your carpet, clip it to the machine and it blasts air underneath. This room is about 16 x 25 but the Air Mover is so strong it picks the whole carpet up....my kids think it's a big moon bounce. I'm glad they're enjoying this! I'm hoping it is as dry as toast in the morning.
The funniest, well, most IRONIC, thing about this whole deal is this: My children like to put on "shows" for us down in the playroom (aka the flooded basement) and this usually involves an intermission with refreshments. The night before the Big Flood we were served lemonade, iced tea and blueberry bread which we enjoyed while sitting on the floor. With 4 children 6 years old and under, there is bound to be some spillage....so there was. Just a little. I mean, these were little play tea cups we were drinking out of....and a few crumbs also hit the floor. Well, my normally laid back hubby is a stickler about the carpet in the playroom getting WET. And he was getting a little UPTIGHT about the 4 teaspoons of liquid being spilled on the Berber. He was NOT enjoying the refreshments. He even put his sock on the spill to sop it up.
Thankfully, he found the humor (and the lesson) in that as he sucked water out of said carpet for 5 hours one Thursday....
Comments
Aug. 12, 2006 - Oh no!
Posted by SarahLynne
How awful for you!! We have one of those pools for the first time this year. We've had a couple of problems. THe first problem was once, ours was underfilled and my 4 year old leaned on the edge and water started spilling out and it just sucked her right out with it....scared her to death. The 2nd problem...and this happened twice was that squirrels like to drown in it! ICK!
Aug. 12, 2006 - Oh my goodness!
Posted by MelismaTo4
I can hardly believe your story! Well told. I always say--anything for a good story, but I think I'd forgo all that. We got flooded our first fall here--in the BIG FLOOD. But our basement, though finished, was not nicely finished, and we did muddle through. I hope you are well dried. out. thanks for your hugs, prayers and comments! (and the zucchini. Yum!)
