Friday, June 21, 2013

Flooding update

I've just heard from Lynda via text:

"We are doing ok.  Keeping a supply of fuel for the generators has been a challenge.  We have had little contact with the outside world but it would seem many are worse off than us.  Four fatalities in town.  Ed (Les' brother) is stranded here with us.  Stories of people being rescued off their roofs make us feel so blessed and grateful”

She sent a picture of the front and back yard and it doesn't look like water is touching the home anymore.  The burm, added after the 2005 flood, has definitely helped because the river is still raging on the other side of it. 

The photo below is of the neighborhood which are 2 rental properties are.  One of the tenants got close enough to see the water at the top of the exterior stairs.  The basement isn't finished but aside from whatever they are storing, it houses the usual things like the furnace, hot water tank, washer and dryer.


Here's High River's 7-11 in the heart of the downtown.

 
It's tough not to obsess over this devastation.  It feels so much like 9/11 when we caught ourselves going back to the media over and over again to see the chaos.  Clenching our teeth and wondering whether it could happen to us.  I'm not concerned at all about rising water at our home but absolutely sick about those who've been faced with it.  Kinda brings it on home right?  So often when destruction/war/natural disasters strike we're not victims and it's not near us - we don't know anyone who've been personally affected yet we can empathize.  Our 'sorrow' doesn't seem to last though and perhaps we forget it happened.  This event doesn't allow that for us here - it's all over the papers, online, in texts and emails.  Those who live through this won't ever forget it happened.  Those people (ourselves included,) are trying to decide if it's better to rebuild or repair.  Time will tell.
 
This is the day the Lord hath made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it. 

No comments: