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| Brookwood Terrace |
In a state of numb fascination I wandered around Brookwood Terrace neighborhood after the evacuation. For any residents remaining after the evacuation, the flood of the prior night posed the sole topic of conversation on the sidewalk. You still could not see the sidewalk but some neighbors in rubber boots were visiting, comparing notes and stories, and lending advice and tools. It honestly did feel a little intrusive to me to be carrying a camera and shooting photos, but this has never happened here in my close to half-century of existence. Later, shots of the flood on social media helped people in far reaches of California and elsewhere stay in touch with friends who still live in their old neighborhoods: It also gave them a grasp of the level and the impact of this flood when news coverage with its hyperbole and repetition made the country think that maybe all of San Jose was underwater. In conscribed zones of the city on the Coyote Creek, we were in a state of emergency and distress but even some other citizens of our city remained unaware that our neighborhoods had flooded and required (and still require) relief and services. Following is a collection of images of Brookwood Terrace on the day after this historic event for our community.
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| South 19th Day After |
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South 19th Sidewalk
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Everything was boggy and afloat. A resident tried to prevent his pick-up from sinking further below his front yard:
Most likely, at some point in the advancing waters, he determined his yard as high ground. Not high enough as you can see the waterline is at his front stoop.
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Drought Resistant Landscaping
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In the last several years of drought, many people have switched their front grass for drought resistant plants or fully California native gardens.
We have been on water restrictions for a few summers. This family's yard will be lucky if it recovers from complete submergence under the escaped waters of the Coyote Creek. Coyote Creek became overwhelmed by the overfull Anderson Reservoir pouring into its channels. There is a town meeting at City Hall this week on March 9th; There are many people who have questions and concerns, to say the least. I am sure some are still overwhelmed and also incensed at the disruption and expense this flood has caused in their lives. I will learn what I can and take the temperature of the neighborhood at the planned forum. Two emergent lessons have been cooperation and civic responsibility (between neighbors foremost and also between communities and helping agencies) and also holding our public officials accountable and making sure they see us through in a crisis.
