Help! I need an ark!

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Polly
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Help! I need an ark!

Post by Polly »

A good (WET) morning to ya!

WOW! We have had 7 1/2 inches of rain in the past 48 hours, with more predicted every day for the next week! I measured it in our rain gauge. We have to keep pumping out the pond so that it doesn't overflow. Boy, is it ever hard to prime the pump and get it going in the middle of the night in a downpour - because the pump itself is not supposed to get wet. I tried to keep both the pump and me under a big golf umbrella while I added the oil. I really needed 3 hands, but of course, I was the only one home.

Love,

a very soggy Polly
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Post by annie oakley »

Wow Polly! I hope you have a canoe. Could ya send some of that rain to us here in Texas, in piticular west and central Texas? I hope you stay safe there Polly. Love Oma
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Post by starfire »

Please, keep us posted if you can, Polly. Be careful!!!

Love, Shirley
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Polly,

I noticed the flooding in Maryland on the news, also. I hope the rain gives you a break soon.

You can make your life a lot easier if you get a submersible electric pump for the pond. For roughly 60 or 70 bucks or so, you can get a decent one that will supply an inch and a quarter, to an inch and a half output hose, which will pump a lot of water in a short amount of time. All you would have to do then is throw it in the water, (or leave it in), and plug it in, (preferably using a switched outlet inside a dry structure, that can be operated without any risk of electrical shock).

Love,
Wayne

P S you might need to cover the suction end of the pump with a screen of some kind, to keep from pumping sucking small creatures into the pump. I would assume that you're already doing that, though.
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Post by Sally »

I've been watching the news and thinking of you, Polly. I don't like the idea of you out in the rain with an umbrella in one hand trying to run the pump with the other two. Electricity + water make me nervous. Wayne's suggestion sounds like a good one.

Please stay safe. You can get other fish, but we will never find another you.

Love and namaste.

Sally
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tex
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Post by tex »

Polly,

Adding to what I said about a pump, after thinking about it, I think the best way to handle a situation like that would be to permanently mount a sump pump somewhere in the pond, (disguise it with some vegetation, or something) with an automatic float switch, (just as you would rig it up to handle a basement that has a risk of flooding), so that it will automatically turn on and off if/when needed.

If you didn't have a convenient way to safely, (and unobtrusively), route a permanently installed electrical cord to it, you could just hook it up whenever flooding conditions appear eminent, and then it could take care of itself until the threat was passed. That beats the heck of standing out in the rain to pump water. I'll bet Scott is familiar with bilge pumps, if you need some help with the design and setup.

Love,
wayne
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Post by MaggieRedwings »

Hi Polly,

Can we share that ark?

Saturday we got 9 inches in an hour and a half and yesterday another 3 inches with a couple today. Apparently Chester County in PA was the hardest hit up our way. Everything looks a lot worse down there but we both surely need a boat. We actually cancelled all of our planting crews today - first time ever. I am sure they did not like that.

Also, thanks so much for your call and it did help to lift my spirits. Please pray for a better day for me and I am keeping my fingers crossed for it too.

Love, Maggie
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Tessa
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Post by Tessa »

Hi, Polly, mi querida amiga.

I've been watching the news too and immediately have been thinking on you. Oh, my God! :shock:

How are you?

Is it still raining?

I got really worried when I read the news on CNN a few minutes ago:
East flood

Please, take care, above all with electricity and water, not a good idea to have them mixed together...
:???:

I am sure you will take the most suitable precautions, but, please, please...
take care and stay safe.
Love,
Tessa
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Post by JJ »

Wow Polly...take care...somehow I have missed the national news lately...wish I could send some of our hot weather and sun to you my friend...hope the rain ends soon....Love, JJ
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Post by Carrie »

Polly has the rain stopped? We've had lots up here but not nearly as much, or as many problems, as you have had. If this keeps up, I can paddle my canoe to Baltimore to see you!

Love,
Carole
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Post by Polly »

Hi All!

Luckily we had a reprieve - just 3/4" of rain in the past 24 hours. But at least 3 more inches expected by Thurs. Apparently a front is stuck just over us!

Tex, thanks for all of the advice. I have shown it to Scott, who agrees. And YES, he DOES know bilge! LOL! Actually, we do have a submersible pump in the pond that pumps water from the lower to the upper pond. But the tubing runs underground and cannot be adjusted to be able to pump water out. I think we will probably go with another submersible pump. In the first 4 years we had the pond, it never rained enough that we had to pump, but it seems the weather patterns around here are becoming much more extreme.

Anyway, we are doing fine, and I thank you for your concern.

Love,

Polly
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tex
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Post by tex »

Hi Polly,

I'm glad that things have settled down, (for a while, at least), and that you're ok.

If you already have a pump in place, another option would be to put a "y" valve between the pump and the existing outlet hose, and attach a drain hose to that valve.

Love,
Wayne
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Post by Tessa »

Hi, Polly,

I am glad everything´s going on much better than in the last hours. But still a little worried about the weather forecast.

Take care while driving and stay safe (and dry, if possible).

Love,
Tessa

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