Thursday, June 24, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS


GILLIAN SLADE gslade@medicinehatnews.com


Flood waters wreak havoc in Medicine Hat


to creeks are asked to be cautious as levels continue to rise.


Relentless rain has resulted in local creeks overfl owing. There is the distinct possibility of fl ooding in low-lying areas in the next 24 to 48 hours and some residents are already dealing with fl ooded homes.


"All three tributaries, Seven Persons Creek, Ross Creek and Bullshead Creek are overfl owing their banks," said Ron Robinson, director of emergency management and the fi re chief for Medicine Hat Fire Service in a telephone interview with the News on the afternoon of June 18.


A Flood Watch has been issued by Alberta Environment for all tributaries fl owing north out of the Cypress Hills.


"The South Saskatchewan River is fl owing at 2,300 cubic metres per second," said Robinson.


On June 1, a story in the News quoted Robinson as saying the river was fl owing at 800 cubic metres per second. At the time Robinson said it could safely handle 1600 cubic metres per second.


Alberta Environment is not able to say when the tributaries will reach their peak and when that will result in the South Saskatchewan River rising to a level that will cause fl ooding in low-levels in the city.


A "high streamfl ow advisory" was issued by Alberta Environment for the South Saskatchewan River including Medicine Hat. Environment Canada also issued a "fl ood warning" for all tributaries fl owing north out of the Cypress Hills.


In Medicine Hat fl ooding in low-lying areas of the city is expected and those situated close


It's been necessary to close some roads and access to certain parks. Closures include the creek at Seven Persons Creek from Dunmore Road S.E. to Lions Park, the trail at Ajax Coulee from Bullivant Crescent to Kin Coulee Park, and Seven Person Creek overfl ow tunnel from Kin Coulee Park to Saamis Archeological Site. The low level crossing on South Boundary Road is closed and a detour has been placed at 23rd Street by Brier Park Place and 10th Avenue.


By Friday afternoon the city had heard from about 40 residents whose homes were fl ooded. Judy Wonnenberg has lived in her home on Carry Drive for more than 30 years and has not experienced any fl ooding before.


"For the last three days I've been dealing with a fl ooded basement," said Wonnenberg on the verge of tears.


Most of the basement is wet and in one particular room as fast as the water is suctioned up more seeps in creating a pool of water about two-inches deep.


"I don't understand where the water is coming from," said Wonnenberg surveying the immediate area outside the house. "This is concrete and there is no pooling of water here."


Wonnenberg says her insurance company will not cover the costs because the fl ooding is due to seepage.


"My only hope is perhaps coverage from the City if this is declared a fl ood disaster," she added.


Anyone with fl ooding problems is asked to fi rst determine if they are covered by


Ranchers


their insurance company. If not covered for overland fl ooding or seepage they should call the city clerk department at 403-529-8115 and leave a name and phone number, said Brandy Culvert, communications offi cer for the City.


"There is a possibility of disaster relief," said Calvert.


It's important to keep items of evidence including photographs as proof of damage.


Redcliff public works manager Darrell Schaffer said there has been some localized fl ooding in some areas of the town but residences located in the river valley have not experienced any fl ooding from the South Saskatchewan River.


The provincial government through the department of municipal affairs and the Alberta emergency management agency are in the process of determining if a disaster recovery program is warranted.


On Friday morning, RCMP advised travel closed in both directions of the Trans-Canada Highway from Dunmore to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan boundary and is expected to remain closed for the time being. Highway 41 south, from Highway 1 to the United States border, was also closed. Several stretches of these roadways are under water.


An emergency operations centre has been set up in Briar Park where the emergency management team are directing operations.


and farmers face setbacks in wake


of fl ood


MARCIA LOVE Maple Creek News


While residents of Maple Creek continue to assess water damage done to their homes by the fl ood, ranchers and farmers are evaluating losses suffered at the agricultural level.


With drenched fi elds and lost livestock, producers in the Maple Creek area were hit hard by last week's fl ood.


Darvin and Kris Mason lost a number of cows and calves in the surge of water across their property south of town.


“We got a phone call at 4:30 a.m. that there was a wall of water coming,” explained Darvin. “We were taking stuff out of the basement and packing the vehicles and trying to get all the cows out of the corals and the horses and everything.”


Just before 9 a.m., Kris received a phone call from a neighbour saying the water had reached Timothy Crawshaw's property on Highway 21 and was heading for their ranch.


“At 9:01 a.m., it hit our place,” said Darvin, noting fl ood waters reached over four feet in the corals. “Everyone chased all the livestock out that they could. My brother and my wife saw some cows bobbing in the water that didn’t know where to go.”


The Masons drove to higher ground and called for the cows.


“Some (cows) tried going east, but the water sucked them under and they never came back,” Darvin said. “The rest fi nally started going west, but not all of the calves came out at the other end.”


Darvin said his horses were luckier, as they were able to swim across the swift-moving current.


Rick and Debbie Friday's ranch on Highway 21 was also completely surrounded by water.


“When Rick got up at 3 a.m., he heard this noise and he thought a water pipe had broken in our basement,” Debbie explained. “Then when he opened up the front door, he said to me, ‘Honey, you've got to come and see this.’”


The Fridays were shocked to see the portion of Maple Creek that runs along their property had made its way onto their lawn.


“We couldn't see our driveway until about


7 p.m. Friday night,” said Debbie. “We had four feet of water in our basement.”


Although the Fridays' horses and two emus were fi ne, their crops this year may be a different story.


“We lost hay land because it was all washed out,” Debbie said.


News Photo Ian Sorensen Many of Medicine Hat's low-lying areas are swallowed up by fl ood waters.


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Len Mitzel, MLA Cypress – Medicine Hat Constituency


As the MLA for Cypress - Medicine Hat and on behalf of the Alberta government, I want to express my sincere concern for residents, business owners, farmers, rancherss and one impacted by the flooding in Medicine Hat and Cypress County. Ministers and f have been here to assess the damages first hand. I would like to thank all those who have spent countless hours as volunteers or service industry member o er the last weekend. Thank as well to Cypress County and Medicine Hat City


As the MLA for Cypress - Medicine Hat and on behalf of the Alberta government, I want to express my sincere concern for residents, business owners, farmers, ranc everyone impacted by the flooding in Medicine Hat and Cypress County. Ministers and staff have been here to assess the damages first hand. I would like to thank all those who ha


and


spent countless hours as volunteers or service industry memberss over the last weekend. Thankss as well to Cypress County and Medicine Hat City sstaf who have been on the job for many long hours. The Alberta go municipalities to try to help all who have los elihoods adversely affected in this e


been on the job for many long hours. The Alberta government is w rking withrnment is working with municipalities to try to help all who ha livelihoods adv


lost propert property and homes or ha y affected in this event.


CONSTITUENCY OFFICE: Bay 5, 1299 Trans Canada Way SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1H9 Telephone: 403-528-2191, Fax: 403-528-2278 Toll Free: 1-866-339-2191 Email: cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca Web: www.assembly.ab.ca


41026111•06/24/10 ty and homes or have had their


tafff who have had their


Laurier Donais, a spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, said its No. 1 concern following the fl ood was for the safety of livestock.


“Our fi eld people are hearing very low reports of any stranded livestock,” he explained.


Donais said it is questionable how much of fl ooded crops may be established, although plants standing in water can handle those conditions for up to 48 hours and can withstand up to seven days in wet soil.


3


Photo courtesy Marcia Love, Maple Creek News


The road leading south of Maple Creek towards Cypress Hills or towards the winery was a sight of exasperation.


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41026109•06/24/10


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