It’s supposed to be the first day of summer… but we are so far from the sun and warmth that I attribute to summer.
Southern Alberta is in a state of emergency due to flooding. The whole south western part of the province is under a roaring river of water.
I grew up in Southern Alberta and so have lots of family and friends who are affected by the recent flooding. It is so beyond devastating. I feel sick with what is happening and even worse because there is nothing I can do. Mother Nature is a scary force to reckon with.
Rivers are flooding and spanning over areas at least 2 – 3 kilometers wide (about 1 1/2 miles) and wider in some areas. Houses are being swept away. So far there are no reported deaths, although there are a couple of people suspected to have lost their lives in the flooding. It’s amazing really with how fast the creeks, streams and rivers rose that more people haven’t died and for that I am very thankful and hope that there are no more.
For you who haven’t seen what is going on, here are some pictures I’ve found on the internet. I’ve tried to put the links as to where I found them but I see many people are posting them so I’m not sure the credit is going where it belongs but thank you to everyone who has shared their pictures and videos.
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Canmore, Alberta
This used to be a creek. Not very big or deep really.
https://raven.b-it.ca/portals/uploads/BCLN2007/.DIR288/TheWeatherNetwork-CougarCreekCanmoreAlbertaFLood.jpg
https://beaconnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Canmore-flooding-20jun13-2.png
Highway #1 flooding at Canmore
https://twitter.com/Amazing_Capture/status/347911379614826496/photo/1
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High River, Alberta
https://i.huffpost.com/gen/1203556/thumbs/o-ALBERTA-FLOODING-HIGH-RIVER-facebook.jpg
It’s scenes like this that are heart warming in this devastation.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPMwWZXR7hr0-36WVk22ok-LuvSLLNg2hfsjKycIRx7Qsp5VOoLw
Thankfully both the cat and the man made it to safety.
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrM4B_DQpJammPt1hZKfi8sl_YmEdGnXA9l8bSwuCw8gqVB-hc
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Crowsnest Pass
https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQDQOfru-oZkUKPf&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Ftlm8Jaoepqc%2Fhqdefault.jpg%3Ffeature%3Dog&jq=100
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Here is a link with many pictures of the devastation.
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/20/alberta-flooding-canmore-calgary-high-river_n_3475279.html
A collection of pictures and videos of the flooding in southern Alberta. https://storify.com/ctvnews/flooding-in-canmore-pictures-and-video
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The sad truth is that it is still raining, it’s only going to get worse in the already flooded areas and then there are the places downstream that will have to deal with the flooding soon. I am praying for people’s safety and for the waters to recede soon.
I hope things get better soon. Sending good thoughts your way x
Thank you. Me too. I am just hoping everyone is safe. Can’t get a hold of a lot of people, so we wait and hope.
I hope you can make contact with everyone soon and that they’re fine.
Mother Nature can certainly shows us who is boss….I pray no-one does perish.
I’m amazed that there haven’t been a lot of reports because there has been so much violent, flash flooding it truly is scary. I too hope that no one dies because of it.
Such a terrible disaster. I do hope all are safe, and the waters subside soon. The damage after is dreadful.
Yes the clean up will be horrifying to say the least. Very sad and going to be difficult for people to get their lives back on track. Thank you.
My m-i-law suffered a severe flood in 1953. They lost so much, and the sea, and sewerage ruined everything. It was devastating for her. It is the health hazards afterwards that pose problems.
Wow and they would have had none of the resources of today. So scary. Yes and as if the flooding isn’t enough the afterwards is more devastating. Where do you start…
I know, she was a strong woman but it must have been so scary. We were very close, and she told me her story. After she died, I wrote it for a writing place I started out writing on the Internet. https://socyberty.com/history/1953-flood-a-story-from-harwich-essex-england/
Thank you for sharing that story Glynis. Wow. So scary. Thank goodness for the guy in the rowboat. I can’t imagine what it was like to go back and to have to clean it up. So sad.
The emotions running through my body as I watch the videos and look at the pictures of places that were so familiar. I can’t imagine what people are feeling right now. i do know that my heart and prayers go out to everyone who is affected. may they all be safe!
I hear you. I am so stunned and heart broken to see all those places that are like home, so devastated. I can’t imagine how people are handling it being there. So scary. I just pray that no lives are lost.
Oh that is heartbreaking. So awful. I went through a hurricane once in North Carolina and it really opens your eyes to the power of mother nature. It is so scary and such a helpless feeling. The whole reality of these horrific weather events shakes you to your core. Ugh!!
So true. And the sad truth is its just getting worse. It’s supposed to continue to rain for at least the next week. It does leave you feeling helpless and all you can do is watch in horror. Every time mother nature flexes her muscles it for sure does wake us up to what is truly important. I can’t imagine a hurricane, so scary.
I just saw pictures and news on my Facebook; I also have friends in Southern Alberta. I’m keeping all my fellow Albertans in my thoughts and hope everyone affected and those who are rushing to render aid stay safe!!!
I so agree with you Victoria. What part of southern Alberta do your friends live? I grew up at Nanton but have relatives and friends from Calgary south.
My friends are mostly in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, and I have a step-niece and cousins in Calgary. I also have a cousin in the military (helicopter pilot) stationed here in Edmonton so she may be part of the support troops sent down to help. Most of my family is in southern Saskatchewan (Moose Jaw, Regina, Weyburn areas), so I’ll be watching as the water moves through there, too.
I was watching some of the video of Calgary last night – unbelievable!!
I hope they are all safe. I guess Medicine Hat is next on the flood list. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as they are predicting. The good news is they’ve had a bit of warning unlike some of the other communities. I too hope everyone remains safe. Thankfully not very many people have lost their lives. Amazing but so encouraging that people can react fast and the emergency system seems to be working.
Thank you! Everyone’s safe – I hope all your friends/relatives have also managed to make it through unscathed. 🙂 Thankfully the rains seem to have stopped or at least slowed down!
Hi Laura. I have been able to get in touch with a number of people and they are all fine. Some had to evacuate their homes and don’t know when they’ll be able to get back, others are safely at home. It’ll be months before anyone really knows the extent of what they’ve lost. The good news is that hardly any lives have been lost. Thank goodness.