Regionalisms

This photo accompanies a Slate article titled "New Orleans is flooded in some areas."  And if the river crests above 20 feet, New Orleans will have spillover, as well as any water falling on the city directly now, or in the near future.  That may lead to some very serious flooding.

I saw a picture similar to this about a week or so ago, about "flooding" in D.C.  The water was about as high as it is in that picture, and it was a picture of only one intersection where the water had ponded.  Busses were getting through, and once out of it the roads were wet, but not impassable.  I guess "flooding" is the right term.  But on my street I'd call that "Houston."  Or a heavy rain.  Probably an inconvenience.  But I wouldn't call it "flooding" unless it was rising into people's houses.  I'd call it inconvenient, but I'd also figure it just meant I'd best not go out, since I don't own a pick up or an SUV with exceptionally high clearance.

But I wouldn't call it "Flooding" because we reserve that term for real trouble.  Water in the streets means slow down, or maybe find another street because you might choke off the exhaust and stall your engine.  "Flooding" is when the water is going to enter your car, or worse yet, carry it away.  "Flooding" is three feet of water in your house.

Just noting the regional difference; really, nothing more.  It's kind of like tornadoes.  A tornado is bad if it hits your house, or takes out a neighborhood, or scrubs the asphalt off the ground.  But if it just shows up somewhere in the area, and doesn't destroy any property, or just stays away from your street, well...you get used to it.  A tornado is much more worrisome because it's destructive and unpredictable, than water in the streets.  Even water over the curb in the streets.

When people are leaving their houses on bass boats, get back to me.  Then, it's flooding.

Like I say, a regional thing.  And thank God for the proliferation of bass boats.  Seriously.  I sometimes think I should keep one in the garage....