Caddo Lake is full to overflowing. As a chance of rain is predicted over the next several days, it is quite likely the situation will become more pronounced.

We can't stop the rain or the flooding. Caddo residents all know of this possibility when they purchase property there. Most of them have provided for it in some way, though you can never be fully protected or ready for disaster.

There are some things you can do to help if you live outside the Caddo Lake area.

First, don't drive into the area. It is bad form to be a sightseer on someone else's misery. Stay at home and read the newspaper, watch the news on television or watch the Internet for pictures that might be posted by some of your friends.

Secondly — and this is even more important — don't take your boat on Caddo right now. Period. The wake you leave behind you may be all that is needed to push the water into someone's home.

That isn't just today, either. It is probably going to take more than a week for the water to recede without your wake causing problem — and that is if we don't get significantly more amounts of rainfall.

We're sorry about your fishing trip or your outing, but if you want to show some respect and care for our neighbors on Caddo Lake, boating this weekend will almost certainly be out.

If you feel inconvenienced, think about how the people on Caddo feel. Just find something else to do instead of boating. We're confident you can manage that.