Hello Ange.
It's also pouring with rain here in the UK and looks like doing so for most of the coming week. What we need for this type of weather is a functional and effective rain outfit (Including a well-designed Hat!). I am not a fan of umbrellas for the type of rain that we get, as they tend to act either as wind-sails to drag you along and possibly over, or they turn inside out and are practically useless for keeping dry. The most functional hats are those with chinstraps so that you don't lose them in the wind; the best of the coats are those with double shoulder covers so that the worst of the rain hits the outer layer and runs off more gently; also, I like to have a raincoat which is long enough to be sure to go over the wellies, rather than have the rain drip into them. On really bad days, I wear waders instead of the shorter wellies as these are much more waterproof than wellies when the water starts getting deep.
It's interesting that you are grateful that it's not snow! Over here, many people prefer the snow, as it seems to make everywhere appear clean again and tends to lift the spirits for a while. Of course, that's only an illusion and as soon as the snow starts to thaw, the effects of human pollution soon become only too apparent again.
I live in a rapidly expanding town at the lower end of a valley, where all the run-off from rainwater is obliged to pass before it reaches the main watercourse which will eventually take it to the sea. Each time it rains, it is likely to flood because developers have built over what used to be flood-plains; most people have pave or concreted over their gardens so that they can park even more cars and create even more rainwater run-off. The stream that runs through my garden is 'normally' just two to three inches deep. However, within 30 minutes of it raining, the water levels rise rapidly to about four feet and are at the very limits of its banks. On the other side of the house is a main road where the drains cannot cope with the amounts of water, so it runs just like a river for the whole stretch. The problems come when inconsiderate drivers do not slow down for the water and drive at speeds which cause tidal waves to lash against the front of the house. I have, of course tried to mitigate this intrusion by building flood barriers at the front of the property, which do a pretty good job keeping the unwanted water waves off the property. However, these defences need to be put out each time heavy rain is forecast, and over the past year or so I have been erecting them much more often that I used to.
From my perspective, I believe that we humans have, one way or another, have brought these things upon ourselves and are presently at the very beginning of having to pay the price for our past mistakes. I envisage that, if I live long enough, we will eventually have to abandon the lower floor of our house to the floodwaters and live on the upper floors. I also think it is a sad reflection on the human (lack of) abilities/ willingness to think ahead, rather than live for short-term profit on a day to day basis.
Enough ranting for today!
Best wishes and enjoy the rain - you could be in Australia enduring the fires.
Bill