At 6:30 am we woke up to find 7” of water inside the shelter. The water was just starting to reach the bottoms of the cages. We knew it wasn’t going to be long before the water reached the inside of the cages. This was something we never imagined would happen and had no idea what to do. Immediately we moved all the ferrets on the bottom row up so that we had more time then we got on the phone and started calling friends and family. 

At 7:30 am we had 8” of water inside the shelter and still no idea of what to do. About this time our friends and family started calling back and showing up to help. We started condensing ferrets into as few cages as we could and hauling them into the house, before we knew it we were out of room and still many ferrets to go. The water was very cold and many of our helpers were without boots or they had go over their boots in the rising water.

By 8:30 am we had 9” of water in the shelter and still many ferrets to go. At this time we could see water bottles and litter pans floating away. We had no time to chase these things down. People that were able to foster started showing up and we quickly started going thru paper work and checking micro chips while trudging thru the still rising water bringing cages, ferrets and supplies to cars waiting out on the road. 

By 9:30 am we had 10” of water in the shelter and still a few ferrets to get out.  At this time it begins to sink in that this is really happening and every thing is getting ruined. A lot of our litter was getting wet and ruined, we had some food getting ruined and half of our stuff was floating away. 

It is now 10:30 am and we have 11”of water in the shop and even more things getting ruined. We noticed that the wall heater was under water and the hot water heater was floating all this in just a few hours was way to much to handle. 

At 4:30 pm there was 13.5” of water in the shelter and it has stopped rising. Our house is still full of cages, the floors are sopping wet and muddy from the frantic moving of ferrets and supplies during the day. The back porch is so full of stuff that you couldn’t even move. The lawn and field is covered with litter pans, water bottles, and bedding that are floating away. The fire wood we used to heat the house had all floated away. The phone has been ringing off the hook with people that are wanting to help and wondering how we are doing.  If you called during this time and we didn’t answer or call you back we are sorry it was a very busy and stressful time so please don’t be offended.  

At 10:30 pm We still have 13.5” of water in the shelter. The house was a mess we were a mess and still many things to do. Friends begin to show up with truck loads of fire wood that we pack thru the water and on to the front porch. 

On 1/9/09 at 2:00 am The water is still at 13.5” and we are still going. Trying to move things out of the water and chasing down items that were floating away. At this time we had a total of 40 ferrets inside the house all the others had been distributed out to  foster homes and friends. Shortly after 2:30 am we went to bed. 

At 10:00 am We woke up to find that the water level has stayed the same and had not went down. Volunteers started showing up and helping us clean cages, feed, water, and clean the house. We shuttled people to the house with our lifted trucks and a little inflatable raft. 

At 6:00 pm Even more volunteers show up to lend a hand and foster some ferrets. Things seem to be getting a little more under control and looking better inside the house. We have had people coming and going all day long helping. The water has come down a couple inches during the day but has seemed to level out again

On 1/10/09 At 1:00 am Everyone is wore out from all the work and stress. Some of the volunteers are still here but are getting ready to leave. We are all still in aw over all this and now most of our thoughts are focused on what has to happen to get the shelter going again after the water goes down.

What's next?

We do not know how long till the water goes down. We know that we are going to need to pump out the remaining water once the water gets below the outside of the dike around the house. The dry wall and insulation will need replaced. We will need to get a new wall heater and hot water heater. There is a tremendous amount of clean up that will need to take place to sanitize the place. We are sure that there is going to be many other things needed but we wont know what until the water is all gone.

Thank You

Thanks to all that expressed their concern and lended a helping hand we greatly appreciate it. As of right now we do not have a completed list of people or organizations that have helped but we will get it out there soon. With all the help we were able to evacuate around one hundred ferrets and place them in great foster homes until we are back on our feet. Thanks again without your help we could not have done it as fast or a good as we did with you.  

SUNDAY'S EVENTS

TOTAL DISASTER

M

MONDAY MADNESS