Meeting Neighbors

(Our personal flood story, complete with pictures, starts at Albany Park floods-- Record-breaking rains. )

We've lived here for three years. We know some of the people on this street.... we smile at them as we drive by. But we don't really talk to them.

The best thing that comes out of disasters is that people start to meet their neighbors, to complain, to help, to exchange the latest info on gas, electric, city services, possible FEMA assistance. That's nice.

I've talked to more people in this area, both people on my own block, and people on other blocks, in the last five days than I have in the last three years. I met the couple that just moved in... yep, just a month ago, with their two little kids at the end of the block. They also did their homework and heard that the street doesn't flood.

I met the woman with the beautful house right on the river on the 5000 block of Monticello.. She has big picture windows that open onto the creek. And the gentleman who lives behind her on the 5000 block of Central Park. He was setting up a pump early, Saturday afternoon. I wonder how he did.

There's a new bond in the community: How were things on your block? How high was the water? What did you lose?

The neighborhood seems friendlier; the bond of disaster and tragedy.

(Next part of the Albany Park Flood Story: City of Chicago workers Help Get Rid of Junk. )