Current mood:	shocked
Current music:	David Lee Roth - Just Like Paradise

Holy crap, Batman.
Apparently Gloucester came within two inches of being evacuated. Two *inches*. Complete evacuation. Jesus.

I knew that the electricity substation that provides us all with our power very nearly flooded - the water came to within two inches of the top of the flood defences earlier in the week, and it was only because of the absolutely heroic efforts of the emergency services and armed forces keeping it pumped out that it wasn't overwhelmed, but I hadn't realised that they were going to evacuate us if it had gone. Apparently, with the other substation out of action from the floods, because we'd have had no power to boil the emergency water that's being distributed, they would've had to get us all out. That's...somewhere in the region of 300,000 people, being taken to rest centres in Bristol and Birmingham, those who didn't have relatives they could go to. I mean...whoa. Guess we can all be thankful it didn't come to that, thanks to those who kept that substation dry. lol, Mark pointed out that it was like Shaun of the Dead up by the shops the other day because everywhere was closed - think how it would've been if we'd all been shipped out completely. Whoa.

It's been raining again today, mind you. Still, I had plastic boxes and tubs and buckets out in the back garden catching the rainfall and got about three bucketfuls, at least, plus what's gone into the water butt, so we have water to flush the loos with for a while. Which is reassuring. Also, we escaped to the in-laws last night as they still have water, so we could have showers and wash our hair and do laundry and washing up - and raid their water butts for rainwater. :D I maintain, we're still a lot luckier than some. I'm still in the position where I can regard it as an Awfully Big Adventure - and I know for a lot of people (including the family of the father and son who died overnight in Tewkesbury after being overcome by fumes from the petrol-powered pump they were using to pump out the local rugby club) it is nothing of the sort. We are very lucky indeed.

(lol. And yay, finally a chance to use my 'wtf?!' icon, featuring the inferior Matt from Game On. Been waiting for an event worthy of that one...)