Car Keys
 
 I wish I could say it’s been a good summer so far but for many people it has been a summer they would like to forget. The flood of "06" has been our worst natural disaster ever. I have lived in Apalachin all my life and I have never seen flooding as bad as it was. Even the flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 was not as bad, at least in Apalachin. 

 On the morning that the water was at its worst, I stepped outside at 4:30 in the morning to go to work and I looked at my side yard and it looked bright like there was moonlight on it. I walked a few feet from my door to check it out only to find it was rushing water. I live in a flood plain although the flood maps are very much outdated. 

 I was fortunate. If it was ever going to flood at my house, that would have been the time. At work I found myself filling emergency generators all over the Southern Tier. I got to see the devastation first hand. I hope I never see it again. My heart goes out to those who lost everything. Houses can be repaired or replaced but memories from  pictures and personal items cannot. 

 In my travels I also noticed hundreds of  cars that did not escape the flood waters. You can bet that there will be a few that find their way back on the car lot. If you think you are getting a deal when you buy a flood vehicle at a bargain price, think again. With all the electronics and computers used in cars today, it would be almost impossible to make them right without replacing all the electronics. Then you have mud and silt in the seats and carpeting, door panels and headliner. This mud also contains bacteria that can be very harmful if inhaled as fine dust. You would also never get all the smell out. I saw this happen in 1972. 

 If someone tries to sell you a vehicle that has any strange smell even if it’s a trace, take it to someone to have it checked out for flood damage. You may be buying yourself a lot of problems. 

 As we know the flood will have long term effects but one of the immediate effects I have noticed is the mosquitoes. I am sure a lot of them were from all of the standing water that’s been everywhere. Every time I go outside they see my bald head as a target. I have some repellent that seems to do the job but I hate the feel of slime on my head.

I suppose it’s better than getting West Nile Virus. After an eventful summer like this one we can only hope that the coming winter will be a bit better for us. But then again, we live in New York, so who knows? I have my plow and snow shovel ready. Bring it on!