The Weather Channel is proud to bring you "When Mother Nature Strikes - The Great Flood of 2000". Sponsered by Aero Coach trailers "Our Trailers can even stand up to Mother Nature" and by the Bar Nuthin' Ranch Camp Resort where we camp year round.
Our story starts out on a beautiful July weekend at the Bar Nuthin' Ranch Camping Resort. The resort was sparsely filled on this perticular weekend. All was going well for the campers. They were enjoying swimming, games, and even a movie or two in the community building, but little did they know what fury was about to be released on them. When the campers went to bed Saturday night after singing campfire songs and making smores, they noticed rain clouds obsuring the moon.
"I knew that there was goin' to be a rain shower but I never dreamed what really happened." Stated Wendy Bunch, one of the campers. She went on saying, "When we went to bed, we made sure to zip up all of the camper's windows and made sure our chairs were put under the camper."
The storm of all storms started in the early morning hours of Sunday. The storm hit the the fury of a Tropical Typhoon. High winds and torrental rain pounded the camp site. The Wales family, consisting of Johnny and Amy and their two small boys, were the first ones to have trouble.
"I heard the wind start a howlin' and then when I opened my eyes, I realized my air matress we were sleepin' on was a floatin'." The father said. "I braved the storms fury to try and cover the tent in plastic but the winds were blowin' it out of my hands." He added.
In the camper next to the tent, Diane Bunch heard the struggle of the young family and sent her husband out to see if he could help. The husband, Terry, lit a cigarrette and went out to see what he could do. When the wind ripped the cancer stick out of his pursed lips, Terry realized that everyone was in grave danger. He brought the distraut family into his camper hoping that it would not float away in the massive amount of water pooling in the camp site. As the small children were placed in the warm sleeping bags of the already crowded camper, Diane slightly opened her window to see the most horrific site in her many, many years. She saw the life threatening water creeping towards the camps founder's tent.
"I don't know if it is widely known but Doug Hoag is my baby brother," sniffles a distraut Diane. She went on, "All I could think about was my sweet and wonderful baby brother, in his tent, struggling to open the zipper while the deluge of flood waters rose periously towards his precious head." Tears start to well up in her eyes as she continues, "I tried to get someone to go and help him, I even tried myself but my son kept me from going out in the hazardous waters. If it wasn't for his smart thinking and quick actions to stop me, I probally would not be here today."
But this story ends with a happy note. Doug did not drown, in fact he slept through the whole thing and did not even get wet. "I know my very much older sister, Diane, really thought I was in trouble but she is not the brightest bulb in the family. Her family jokes about her only having a half a peanut in her shell if you get my meaning." Laughs Doug. He went on, "I am glad my nephew, Kip, was able to control her hysterical episode."
All in all, the only damage done on this weekend was to the Wales' family tent and clothing. The flood waters withdrew and everyone was able to pack up and head home, wet but unharmed. The National Weather service stated that this freak storm was caused by the already warmed surface and a cold front zipping along the Jet stream which converged on the camp site. The ground just could not handle that amount of rain in such a short time. The campers were really lucky everyone escaped unharmed.
This is just a reminder that no matter where you are that Mother Nature can always reach you. You have to plan for emergencies no matter where you are at. When camping you should watch the Weather Channel or at least listen to the radio and be ready should an emergency happen.