Just asking for your prayers for our little rural town here in SW Virginia. We have been having rain like the dickens and is pouring off of mountains and the rivers and streams are overflowing. Out of at least a dozen ways out of here, we only have one road left and water is about to go over the sides any minute. Many of the folks here are complete cut off already.

We are very fortunate because our farm is very high on the mountain so our farm won't wash away; however, those at the bottom lands are not so fortunate. Although "things" can be replaced, our area is suffering severely from many plant closings and unemployment is higher than it has ever been. Since jobs are so hard to find, I especially covent your prayers for those who have jobs that they will be able to get to them. Employees can be replaced in an instant if you can't show up for work. Even businesses have had to shut down and most people are hourly employees and could be facing many days off without pay.

Also, since it never floods here, most folks don't have flood insurance. Farmers have also started plowing for planting season and are losing all thier topsoil. Many folks can't get thier mail. It is really a mess! You always see this kind of stuff on TV but don't really get the full understanding until it happens near you. I know they are getting hit hard in Tennessee as well. Your prayers would be appreciated. By the way, we are hoping mail can still get to the post office and we can still get to the post office, as well. We have chicks coming any day! The last time our chick order was to arrive it was canceled because the airlines were down for the 911 disaster. Hummm...maybe I need to stop ordering chicks!

Thanks in advance for your prayers!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002

Answers

Karen I will pray for the rain to be spread out a little. In Maryland, our birth-state), due to minor rainfall, they have postponed conservation measures to combat resevoirs being at all time low levels.

We just delivered our Motor Home to the bottomland of our homestead, where it was wetter than we have ever seen it in the year we have been going there!

-- Rick in SW West Virginia (Rick_122@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

I'm hearing you Karen-we have severe flooding to the south and east of us-we can still get out though the frount yard is very splashy. I am very thankful that a couple of week ago, the county fixed the road just above us otherwise I am possitive it would have washed out. And still more rain comeing! Good luck to you and yes, I'm praying for you and for all of us in this weather.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), March 18, 2002.

Hi Karen, we're drowning over here in East Tennessee, too. Have now had about 8 inches of rain the last 2 days, with 5.2 of it yesterday. Suppose to be a front coming in tomorrow, with, naturally, more rain.

I saw on tv, where a big chunk broke off of a mountain road. 30 ft. in diameter. The people on top the mountain are stuck as far as driving down, so they're just sitting tight. They were all safe. We're on top off a hill, so we're doing allright, but the people who live in the bottom lands and hollers are having a mess of it. Heard Harlen Co. in Ky. was getting hit with rain pretty bad too. The local news said that more people are killed by floods than any other weather disaster. So please be safe when going out. Hope it's all clear when your little chickies arrive!

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), March 18, 2002.

I was watching the news tonight and there were trailors that were completely covered with water. What a terrible mess. It is especially bad when so much hits at once, and other areas are suffering from drought. You will all be in my prayers, for the flooding and the economy as well.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 18, 2002.

Karen, My mom and I will be praying for you. We are having the exact opposite here in New Jersey. We haven't had any rain or snow and we are already under drought restrictions and the summer hasn't gotten here yet. I have never seen the reservoirs as low as they are this year. Have faith and we'll keep you in our prayers. - Sheryl

-- Sheryl in NJ (all295@aol.com), March 18, 2002.

Karen, I will definitely be praying for the people in your area. Floods can be disastrous not to mention the economy problems in your area. We have lots of rain here in central Ky. too but not yet at the flood stage. I believe it is mostly to the south and east of us. There is a river close to us that has flooded before and we couldn't get out for two days. Hope that doesn't happen again. Like you, we are up high so I don't worry about our house but lots of people around here are at "flood level". I do wish we could share all this rain with the people up east!

-- Barb in Ky (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 19, 2002.

Everyone in that area is in our prayers------

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 19, 2002.

Prayers from a drought striken, praying-for-rain region of the country. Stay safe and dry as possible. This summer is supposed to be pretty weird, according to the weather gurus.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), March 19, 2002.

I know we can't question the "Man Upstairs" but it would sure help if all that water could be spread around. Our relatives in Hagerstown, Md need rain so badly. They run a dairy and orachard and need water. Here in NE Ohio we have had just enough snow and rain to be just below normal. If the summer is not too hot we will be ok. Keep the faith and we will all say a word here for saftey for all. Billie NEOhio

-- billie jagers (billie@config.com), March 19, 2002.

You certainly do have our prayers. Our prayer circle has been very busy cause several of us have friends and family in TN and KY. Please stay safe - don't take any chances - stay on high ground and don't let your kids play in the water either.

God bless

-- Michaela (flhomestead@hotmail.com), March 19, 2002.