The Floods in my Hometown

[ShandaFay]

SO we were hit really hard in our city last weekend by floods from rain. We have 3 rivers flowing through different parts and many areas were effected badly by the rushing water. I can't tell you how sad it was to see such devastation right in my own city. i thought this could and would never happen here. But honestly the last few years the change in weather has been happening quickly. i don't know if its Global Warming because we are not getting warmer here. Our winters seem shorter but our summer and blue sky's don't last long for summer at all.

Some of the communities around us were totaled and it will be a long time before they recover. I feel for those people so much. We have a lot of help and wonderful volunteers here. The mayor asked for 500 the other day and I think 7000 showed up to help! My 90yrold Grandma has been evacuated and we have been taking turns taking care of her. Which has been fun..lol The let her home but then evacuated them again Monday.

I gave a bunch of food to the shelters here and let them know I would take any animals that needed a foster till everyone is back in their homes. But I haven't gotten a call so I hope everyone has their pets! Our Zoo had to do some emergency rescuing of the animals too.

there is a lot of work to do to get things back to normal but WOW I just can't believe this happened here!

My heart goes out to all hit by this flood! My house is okay TG!

[h0rnytoad1]

Such devastation is always hard to watch especially when it happens to good friends, my heart goes out to you and your loved ones.

i heard the whole city shut down due to this flood, and it's a big city, i've never heard of that ever happening before.

it's sad to see but you have good strong people rolling up their sleeves and helping in the rebuilding efforts after something like this, that makes you guys survivors.

[Benny25]

Man, that's terrible but it restores my faith in my fellow man when his brother or sister is in dire straits

[ShandaFay]

Yes HT we are a huge city and to have our downtown shut down and other parts of the city! There is still a lot of clean up to do and ton's of damage. last week a train derailed as well due to the water damaging the bridge the train was on. There is lot's of talk about people getting fired because the tracks weren't inspected well after the flood. The city that got hit the hardest just near me is really at a sad loss of every home I think!!!! People are pulling together and the Government is doing a good job so far...we will see with the clean up and homes being restored or built again. Thanks for thinking of your neighbors

I agree Benny ...good to see you!

[hotjulie]

Shanda we've been watching and hearing about it here. Our little town sent a rescue boat there, it's back here now. I know Edmonton and Calgary take shots at each other but when either one needs help they pull together. Alberta Strong

[WalterB]

I know I posted something somewhere, it must have been somewhere else. Anyway, sure feel for you, ShandaFay. Neither you or Mike have mentioned any issues, and both are still here. So I am assuming that you missed the worst. Towns are at their best when disaster strikes. All of the differences seem to fall by the wayside while everyone helps. I think I mentioned before we had major flooding in August of 2006. They called it a 500 year flood. Major parts of lower El Paso washed away, and the town responded to the max. We had it cleaned up and rebuilt in no time. You will do the same.

The human spirit is alive and well.

[CGYMike]

The area of town that got lambasted was in the river valley and a subsidiary of the main river...we have the Bow River and the Elbow River. They wander through the downtown and parts of the older neighbourhoods in Calgary. About 14 neighbourhoods were evacuated altogether.

Shandafay and I are lucky enough to be away from the downtown and were not affected but we know many people who were. I know of one family that might lose their home and know of another who lost their weekend retreat just outside of town on the Sheep River.
Another entire town just south of us is still underwater and 11,000 people are staying in a "tent city" set up by the military.

There is still a lot of clean-up to do but it is progressing nicely...lots of volunteers and a lot of pride seem to be working in our favour.


Mike :)

[WalterB]

Thanks, Mike. Glad to hear your and Shanda's part of town is safe. I live in an elevated area, and there is a very large retaining pond just across the street, so all that rain in 2006 just ran off. But it was rough for many people. I still remember a clip of a dumpster floating down the street.