I didn’t make it to my campground at Lake Ouachita an hour outside of Hot Springs. The storms which blew through while I was hunkered down in Pearl back in Mississippi did some serious damage to Arkansas.
Several highways were closed due to flooding. 
I rerouted twice even though I’d checked for closures before heading North.
oops, guess I’m not going this way.
Or this 
At one point, I passed the remains of two beavers in the middle of the road. They had clearly tried to swim, confused, across one side of the flooded highway to the other. Their beautiful chestnut and black fur, or what was left of it, continued shining in the post deluge sunshine.
Someone captured this photograph of a herd of deer making their escape. 
Countless other animals did not. Their bodies lay along roadsides or on concrete, doomed to rot. I lost track of possum, coyote, and raccoon corpses spied as I inched along.
So much death and devastation.
This photo taken by a local news photojournalist gives you an idea of what I missed
So, I am now sheltering in an available short term rental one block from Lake Hamilton while I wait for highways to re-open
view from porch
I watched two bunnies fight in the back yard last night until they grew weary of the strife, started nibbling grass. This morning, birdsong fills the cloudless blue sky.
Pearl is parked in the driveway in the awkward position in which she landed after I arrived. Kind of bent on a slight downhill slope. 
I was somewhat shell shocked after that long cautious drive.
A total of 22 counties within Arkansas are severely damaged. Two dozen highways are currently closed, with some reopening this week.
FEMA approved over $5 million dollars for emergency assistance at the request of T’s pal, Governor Sarah Huckabee. Yep, it’s really her.
So far, 5250 individuals, many of them farmers suffering extensive crop damage, or family households who were wiped out, have applied for the $43,000 per household aid with an additional $46,000 available for “other documented needs.” These funds are for homeowners who can prove occupancy.
FEMA also provides a $750 award for individuals who have been displaced from their lodging but may not own their own homes. It apparently takes about ten days from FEMA inspector visit to receipt of check.
I give thanks for my continued safety on this pilgrimage, for the reality that I am fortunate enough to find options when so many do not.
I offer up an invocation 
on behalf of those who are suffering, for lives lost, for families grieving, for animals, the innocent victims of our continued global warming impact with the havoc it brings about.
Blessed Be
This has become quite the challenging pilgrimage for you, both physically and spiritually. So glad that you have been able to stay safe, even if stressed in unexpected ways. Hope the next leg of the journey won’t present too many more obstacles.
I’m doing fine. Thank you for caring. I am perfecting the life lesson of “let go of expectations” and striving to, as Ram Das always said, Be here now.
Glad you are safe. And dry.
Flexibility mandate.
With Grace
xoxo
Glad you’re safe. Sorry about all the animals. Must have been lots flash flooding. We don’t realize how bad these floods get when you are far from it. Glad to know FEMA still at work.
As for FEMA, this state likely receives priority treatment due to the Governor’s connection to the current administration. I certainly wish for FEMA to survive for the benefit of every state in need.
Seeing so many dead animals is always disturbing. So apocalyptic.