Zeitoun awakes in Nademah’s bed and hears the sound of running water. When he looks outside, he sees that the streets are beginning to flood and that the water is rising quickly. Zeitoun is initially confused as the water in the streets had drained away the previous day. Zeitoun then realizes that the levees must have been damaged or destroyed and that lake water is flooding the streets. He calls Kathy to tell her, and then begins the task of moving everything of value in the house to the second-story. He goes outside and can feel the water rising up his leg. He ties the canoe to the back porch and then goes back inside, watching the water rise and swallow up everything. Throughout the day, Zeitoun calls Kathy and they talk about the damage. By nightfall he’s unable to even go downstairs because the water is too high. Zeitoun realizes that his phone is dying and tells Kathy he needs to turn it off to conserve the battery. 

Kathy is still driving around Baton Rouge trying to kill time. When she finally returns home, her sister, Mary Ann, derides her for wasting gas so frivolously.