When I moved to the Atlanta area two and a half years ago, it became a running joke between me and my husband that I'd come south for the weather rather than for him. After spending most of my life in the northeast, Georgia seemed like paradise. No snow! No freezing cold temperatures!

Then last year we sat glued to CNN while it was reported that a tornado had ripped through downtown Atlanta. And this past winter, we had half a foot of snow in a storm that took down trees, knocked out power, and generally made me glare at my husband and complain, "This is not what I signed up for!"

I guess I shouldn't blame my husband for the rain and flooding of the past week, but still, after a tornado and a blizzard, why am I even surprised that Atlanta and surrounding areas are under water? After years of drought conditions, the past week has brought heavy rain that seems to never stop. (Although, right now it's sunny outside my window. A quick check of the forecast confirms that this is only a brief respite, however.)

Out Athens-ward we're soggy but generally still above the waterline; closer in to Atlanta hasn't fared so well. The death toll is rising and with more rain on the way, we're once again hearing a lot of "this isn't supposed to happen here" as people struggle to stay dry and safe.

The AJC's Chatter has a video round-up, if you want to see the rushing water in action. (Personally, having had a flooded basement in the past, watching those videos make me a little queasy and PTSD-ish. But have at it if you're made of stronger stuff.)

My friend Natasha at Exile on Mom Street asks if anyone has a spare ark:

I have lived in Atlanta for over 14 years. I have lived in my current house for over 6 years. I have never seen anything like this.

As I drove through my neighborhood this morning with my camera, I saw a husband and wife wading through crotch-deep water clutching their dog and a few possessions tightly to their chests. I almost asked if I could take their picture, but I did not want to intrude on their obvious grief.

Our house is on high ground. We are lucky. Many are not.

And Crewsing Thru My 50's' JCAUNCMom reports:

Being a city on a river (the Chattahoochee) with a zillion creeks, we're used to routine flash flooding anytime we have heavy rain, particularly in the past five drought-stricken years during which our concrete-packed earth hasn't been able to absorb the occasional and unfamiliar rainfall. But this -- this is not something we expect at all. We're five hours from the nearest coast, and this is devastating, hurricane-level damage. And incredibly, there is more rain on the way.

She goes on to explain that despite the damage their house has sustained, they are among the lucky ones right now.

BlogHer's own Renee Ross of Cutie Booty Cakes shares this video with her readers:

Check out Momma's Blog for a slew of recent (very sobering) pictures, taken while trying to get to her parents' house:

My mom and dad’s house is completely under water (at least we assume this to be the case, as all of the roads to get to them are beyond flooded, and the elementary school down the street (further from the river) has been flooded to the roof. Mom, dad, my brother, sister in law, and their children are all safe. As are the pet family members. Over the next few months, I’m sure they are going to need to rebuild their lives. I can’t imagine their being much left to salvage. Please keep them in your thoughts, and prayers to your diety(s) of choice.

Right now, the forecast is for the rain to restart tonight and continue through the rest of the week. Hang in there, Atlanta. We'll get dried out eventually.

BlogHer Contributing Editor Mir has been known to send her kids down to the pond with a casual, "Try not to fall in." She also blogs about issues parental and otherwise at Woulda Coulda Shoulda, and about the joys of mindful retail therapy at Want Not.