Eerie.
How else would you describe the manner in which southern Alberta is once again being inundated with torrential rains?
This time, though, our Bow Valley has yet to be affected, though we have had heavy rainfall warnings in effect. Whereas last year, at almost exactly this time, area creeks and the Bow River raged, spilled their banks and destroyed homes, roads and a vast amount of municipal infrastructure, this year, communities along the Oldman and South Saskatchewan rivers are feeling Mother Nature’s wrath.
Hopefully, if nothing else, lessons learned from flooding which began in this region last June have been taken into account and learned from as the rains pour down in other areas.
In this week’s Outlook you will find a special section dedicated to those who survived, those who helped out and sacrificed and those whose future remains uncertain a full year later.
In One Year Later, there are stories and photos not told or seen before in the Outlook, as well as stories about where post-flood funding has been spent and some on planning for the future. There is also mention of those who remain out of their homes and waiting for word, or in the process of appealing decisions of flood funding for damaged homes.
In an effort to help out a group that helps out throughout our valley, five per cent of sales from One Year Later will go to Bow Valley Victim Services – whose staff and volunteers did quality work in helping flood victims cope during the aftermath.
The issue seems particularly relevant in light of Claresholm being under a state of emergency, with a voluntary evacuation in place, and states of emergency being declared for the Blood Reserve, Cardston, Crowsnest Pass, Lethbridge County, MD of Willow Creek and the City of Medicine Hat (as of Wednesday, June 18).
In Claresholm, there has already been overland flooding and sewers backing up. Medicine Hat, where 10,000 people were evacuated last year, is bracing for more of the same.
As well, there is the possibility the Oldman may flood to historic levels, along with Waterton, St. Mary and Belly rivers in the southern part of the province. It was predicted that the Waterton Lakes area was to receive more than 150 millimetres of rain, Tuesday (sound familiar?).
Having survived last year’s flooding locally, we suggest Bow Valley residents have kind thoughts for those further to the south and east.
At about the time Banff Fire Department was holding a practice session on placement and filling of portable Tiger Dams it purchased with flood mitigation funds, Tuesday (June 17), sandbagging was already taking place in more southerly municipalities.
Anyone thinking, Not again, has every right to feel that way.
We can only hope that however things turn out in southern Alberta, residents, professionals and municipalities are able to react and pull together in support of each other as Bow Valley residents did last June.
The Bow Valley is well known as an area where volunteers are numerous and many are always willing to lend a hand – but the flood of 2013 emphasized that, underlined it and proclaimed it in bold letters.
While still not all flood-related stories have been told, or will ever be told, we want to thank everyone in the Bow Valley for their stellar efforts.
