State of Emergency In Calgary

Last updated on September 4th, 2013 at 04:19 pm

It is hard to believe the transformation here in Calgary. How fast a river can spill over its banks following wide spread rain. Today I am in shock as my heart breaks watching nature ravage my home town. Here in Calgary the mighty Bow and Elbow rivers that wind through her communities and straight through her heart, downtown, are breaching their banks.

The flooding stretches in all directions inside the city and way outside the city into British Columbia. Over 100,000 people evacuated from their homes in the last  24 hours and diverted to higher ground. People relocated to safer accommodations with friends, family or to a city organized shelter.

All bridges over the rivers are closed and inner city streets are being traveled by boats. Emergency crews working feverishly to evacuate threatened areas waiting for the rivers to crest. Power outages and more rain expected today.

Outlying areas: High River, Nanton, Turner Valley, Long View, Canmore, Banff, all under water to point of emergency. The Highwood, Old Man, Sheep and Milk Rivers all raging havoc throughout Southern Alberta and into British Columbia. News correspondents looking tired and emotional as they report on the shocking transformation in Alberta.

Ground water reaching its maximum creating lakes and more flooding North and South of Calgary. It is surreal. A week ago today we drove to Cranbrook to show our house enjoying the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. I have prepared a photo essay post showing all the sun and tranquil beauty we enjoyed on our road trip. I will publish that post today to show the scope of natures fury. That same highway is impassable now, covered in water and totally washed away in some parts.

The cities of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat to the South of Calgary and Sundre to the North west all declaring a state of emergency. Heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the area today. Over land flooding has occurred in Banff which promises further flooding for Calgary. Evacuations will continue throughout the day, this storm system is supposed to move off this evening.