Swept Away

On February 6, 1996, my boyfriend and I were trying to get home to our dogs during one of the worst floods in Oregon’s history. I had insisted we go to town that day, ostensibly to help people save their homes, but truly just wanting to go to the bar and drink. I got my way, and after spending hours drinking at the local tavern, we were faced with rising water and few options of a safe route home. A fellow drinker told us there was an outer road near the highway that was passable. It was getting dark by the time we left the bar, and we soon found ourselves stranded after our engine stalled in rising water.