The water was up to Cissy Hoppe’s ankles Monday morning and that was before she even left her house.

Hoppe, secretary for Selma Fire Department Fire Chief Henry Allen, knew she wouldn’t be able to make it to the office with the water that high; her car rode too low to the ground and would stall when driving through the high waters on Broad Street.

Hoppe first noticed the water level at her Elkdale Street address at 7:30 a.m. Monday. She was going to let her dog outside when she noticed the water was so high she wouldn’t be able to leave in her car.

Her dog, though, bounded outside regardless of the water level.

Fire Inspector Greg Lewellen picked Hoppe up in a pickup truck, and said he had no problems with the water level. He advised others to stay home if at all possible. If people absolutely had to drive in conditions like Monday’s then motorists should keep to the road’s middle.

Fire Chief Henry Allen said Monday’s water levels on Broad Street caused cars to stall when driving through them. Many cars ride low to the ground and high water can cause a car’s electrical system to fail.

Stalled motorists could be assisted out of their cars by firefighters. The Selma Police Department would then be called in to tow the vehicle to dryer land.

However, Allen said motorists also have the option of waiting their car’s failure out. The electrical system will dry out, and the vehicle start again.

While high waters and stalled cars grabbed firefighters’ attentions Monday morning, they had to compete with two failing transformers.

The transformers &045;&045; located near Selma High School and Primrose Terrace &045;&045; caused firefighters to secure the areas around them ensuring no one got hurt.

Sometimes a large storm will bring power lines down that can carry thousands of volts. Monday’s storm, though, didn’t bring any power lines to the ground.

The storm, however, did cause Meadowview Christian Academy to close for the day and stalled Wallace Community College’s classes until 10 a.m. City and county schools remained open with no change to their schedule.