As I write this, the water from the long hours of heavy rain over the weekend, and the cresting of a local river, has paralyzed much of the area I live in. We were fortunate, as we didn't suffer the accumulating water, but so many did.I was affected by the Great Flood of 1977, as locals call it, when my ground floor apartment took on over a foot of water. You can't imagine how the loss of family pictures hurts until it happens. I think of that every time one of these extreme weather events happens.In the hours that lead up to Hurricane Katrina, our family packed up and evacuated west of New Orleans, to where we live now. Other than clothes, the only other things I brought were our picture albums. Funny that we thought of them at such a time--the winds had started to stir and an evacuation order had gone into effect overnight--but the pictures were the only things, other than our lives, that couldn't be replaced. Now I have a picture closet, easy access should we ever have to flee our home.The town closest to us is under water. We go there all the time. Our youngest daughter and her husband live there. Fortunately, they weren't affected either, but they have difficulty getting around with so many road closures. This picture is of the main drag. The yellow building is a Chinese restaurant we frequent.View of the main drag of Crowley, LouisianaWe are expecting more rain and with that will come a further sense of hopelessness for those who haven't yet finished sweeping the mud and gunk out of their homes and businesses. Please remember the people of Southeast Louisiana as you go about your day. They have a long recovery ahead.