Photo galleryThe view from Casa Artom
Alumna describes the historic flooding in Venice
Jennifer Manzullo ('08) studied at Wake Forest's residential study center in Venice, Casa Artom, in the spring semester of 2007. She returned there this semester as the student assistant for music professor David Hagy, who is the faculty adviser there this semester; there are 18 Wake Forest undergraduates studying there. She gives a first-hand account of the historic flooding — the fourth highest on record since 1872 — that hit the often-flooded city on Dec. 1. Casa Artom, located on the Grand Canal, had only minor damage.
Venice is, by nature, a city accustomed to periodic flooding, but Monday (December 1) the water reached its highest point in 22 years. While acqua alta (“high water”) was predicted, no one anticipated that it would raise to nearly five feet in some parts of the island. A few of us in Casa Artom braved the wind and water, not yet knowing of the mayor's warning to residents and visitors to stay inside in the event the flooding worsened.
Signs were evident all over the city that people were unprepared. Bags of garbage floated down flooded streets along with other debris caught up in the currents. Stores were filled with a few feet of water as the owners frantically moved their merchandise to higher ground. Tourists bearing heavy suitcases bartered with impromptu street vendors for a coveted pair of rain boots.
Even those of us who left the house with knee high rain boots quickly found ourselves among the ill-prepared as the water quickly rose, sloshing into our boots and soaking our jeans up to our waists. Only those wearing waist-high boots were able to navigate the streets without getting completely soaked with freezing water.
By late afternoon Monday, the water had almost entirely receded and people were able to generally return to life as usual. There is still evidence of the flooding as some shops remain closed to clean up water damage and debris left behind.
While it was fascinating to experience something so historic, it was also disturbing to watch shops fill with water and temporary sidewalks float away as the wind blew more and more water into the lagoon.
At Casa Artom we were particularly lucky as our house was barely flooded. Only a foot or so of water entered by the dock and in two of the front rooms, and it collected in recessed staircases, so it did not reach the floors of the library, bedrooms, or foyer. While we all anxiously monitored the water level in the house, the prevalent attitude among Venetians seemed to be that of nonchalant acceptance. After all, even though acqua alta is inconvenient, it is as much a part of the city as gondolas and bridges.
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