Between rain and snowmelt, western Montana…esp my little area of it…is experiencing a rather heavy amount of flooding. Rivers are way, way up and low-lying (or is it low-laying?) parts of town are underwater. Fortunately, I live in an are that is pretty much immune to such things. The city would have to be several feet deep in water across its breadth before I’d have to worry.
Nonetheless, it’s a good example of how when you purchase your little chunk of paradise you really need to investigate all the possible threats. “Oh, it only floods once every 200 years” is not as good as “it never floods here”. In addition to floods, you need to think about things like forest fires, rockslides, avalanches, wind storms. and a few other donkey punches Mom Nature likes to administer.
Oh, sure…you can build resilient housing, but better to not be in the path of the train rather than develop a train-proof suit.
On the bright side, the homeless camps (and hopefully some of the homeless) were completely washed away as the river rose about a dozen feet higher than normal. Folks downstream will be inundated with sleeping bags and tents when this thing finally dies down.
In the meantime, I’m just watching it all for the entertainment value. But I kinda did wanna go shooting this weekend and the rain is spoiling that.
I’ve no doubt that the bleeding heart enablers of your squalid town (no offense), will step right up and help those poor down-trodden reprobates find another shopping cart and a brand new card board box to sleep in. There. Problem solved. Yay altruism!
Remember when they used to let tourists feed the bears in yellowstone park? The bears got to the point they’d come right up to people and demand food. So, the policy was to NOT feed the bears and that way they’d go away and disperse throughout the park.
This stupid town makes it far too easy on the homeless to the point that homeless people travel here for the hospitality. And when I say homeless, I don’t mean some hard working guy and his wife who are down on their luck and living in their car. I mean the whisky-for-breakfast homeless types who look like they brush their teeth with a hammer.
You would think the cold would make them go to CA.
“Folks downstream will be inundated with sleeping bags and tents when this thing finally dies down.”
…and used needles, and poo, and vomitus, and man-bun hairpins..
Seriously! What’s up with the man-buns?
Sounds like San Francisco every day of the year if 1% of what I’ve heard is true.
For some of us fires aren’t just a threat from the fires. One of the Reasons I left Spokane was difficulty breathing during fire season. Not being able to breathe gets old fast.
Unfortunately, I live in an area with a lot of flooding. This flooding in Missoula provides an excellent opportunity for summer students and those needing extra money to muck out houses after the water goes down. Basically, time is key, as soon as the water is out of the house, you need to have guys inside gutting it. That means boating over, usually. I suspect most of these homes will be total gut jobs (including removing siding, to get the wet sheathing off. You can research how to on the web but my only suggestion would be to get the money up front or at the end of every work day and before hauling/dumping any loads. Unfortunately, money will be tight for these folks and my buddies in this get stiffed a lot. Probably can get by with fans as Mt is low humidity environment.
Mechanics liens get paid very quickly when the mortage servicer finds out-they get pissed when they aren’t in first position and a sale is forced
I don’t care who you are, that homeless bit was pretty darn funny. We have the same problem here-they brave the winters since they aren’t harassed here like down in Vegas. And all the guilty Yuppie scum bribe them to sooth their own greedy asses conscience. Glad I’m out of that racket.
New flood zone maps were recently put out,you may now be in a flood zone and not know it(and need insurance,it’s cheap) or not be in it anymore. Just one more thing to keep in the property file with the deed,mortage payoff,plat of survey,insurance policy and payment recipts.
Feel bad for anyone floided out,have lost everything in a fire and know what its like to shovel your life into a dumpster(especially the irreplaceable-family photos,keepsakes),at least with a flood you may be able to dry out some stuff.
Last time we were in Missoula, a homeless guy thought it was a neat game to walk up through the blind spots of cars waiting at a downtown stoplight and try the back door of the car. I saw him coming and pulled out into oncoming traffic to bail out. I’m surprised he hasn’t been shot yet.