The Situation

In early January 1997, Northern California experienced severe rainfall that was referred to as an El Niño storm. The downpour of rain came on the heels of a four-year drought and changed everything within a few days.

At the time, I was married and had a four-month-old baby. We were living in a small farming community in Sutter County, located along the Sacramento River. The levee system failed that year as a result of the extensive amount of rain, and with that, I became a statistic of the costliest storm to roll through California.

I had no idea of the impact water could have on the lives of so many. Within a few days, water had submerged an entire farming community, including my home and everything in it. I was devastated.

Problems and Issues Encountered

It seemed as though everything happened very quickly. As a precaution, and based on subtle warnings, I boxed up a few things from my home and stored them at my in-laws' in a neighboring town. For safety reasons, and mostly because of my infant son, I also decided to stay with family during this time. I was honestly more afraid of power outages than anything else.

My biggest mistake at this point was downplaying the severity of the potential destruction. Understandably, I am thankful that my family was safe, but for one second, I was irritated with myself for not packing up more.

Looking back, I’m not sure if worrying about material items should have entered my mind. I was young and afraid at the time, and I wanted my belongings back. Nearly 20 years later, I have no recollection of those "important" belongings.

The one major achievement for me in this tragedy was evacuating. I am so grateful that the damage was all easily repairable in comparison to what might have been.

After the initial shock wore off, I immediately began to panic. We were renters without insurance, and it looked like replacing everything in our home would be impossible. The homeowner immediately began plans to restore the actual home, but my fear was having a living room with nothing in it.

Within days, I contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I was skeptical because I didn’t own the home. I was wrong. Our road to rebuilding began with assistance in replacing our lost furniture, clothing, and household items. FEMA took inventory of the damage and wrote me a check to replace our lives.

For anyone else experiencing a similar natural disaster, I highly recommend contacting local organizations, FEMA, and other government agencies. Grant money is available to help those in need. It sometimes takes time and persistence to get it, but there is help.

It took us a few months to reconstruct the cute little farmhouse. We took extra safety measures to make sure there was no severe damage or threat of future problems with mold and bacteria. We were happily enjoying life as if nothing had ever happened rather quickly after the storm.

Looking back, I realize how moments in the past can really reflect the spirit of a person. If you can weather that kind of storm, you can outlast most anything.

My Advice To You

Don’t act brave when there are warnings regarding anything to do with nature. I learned that a natural disaster is the most temperamental obstacle I’ve ever encountered. Listen to warnings, evacuate early, and focus on the positive; nothing else will matter in hindsight.

Repairing after a flood is possible. I didn’t think it would be. I learned a lot in this sense. Make sure you work with a knowledgeable contractor before beginning repairs. Water damage is scary and has the potential to create bigger problems down the road. Take your time to do the remodeling correctly in order to protect your family.

Once the sun began to shine again that summer in Northern California, life went on as if nothing had happened. For several days, the world nearly ended for many. By June, the farming community was praising the generous rainfall. Drenched soil produced bountiful crops that year, I think. It could have been something else.

Maybe we all just appreciated things a little more.