FLOODING IN CALGARY, ALBERTA,CDA

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:33 pm

Just wondering how members in Calgary and southern Alberta are doing. Been watching the news about the flooding. Unbelievable amount of water there. Hope all are dry and safe.

Rick

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:57 pm

Its crazy..All of downtown is underwater, Saddle dome (our largest sport facility) is flooded up to the 14th row of seats. Bridges are all in danger. Reservor dam is wide open and water is still flowing over the top, everyone down stream was evacuated last night. Over 100,000 are displaced right now.
The town of Highriver, just south of Calgary is underwater, it has been evacuated and the military are keeping people out (too dangerous)
I made it to work today, having to cross the river, and then they closed the bridge, so I have no idea how I am going to get home.
I am lucky enough to be far enough away that my home is safe, but I will have at least 3 overnight guest, who were displaced from the downtown core..
Its bad..really bad..and they say they expect it to rise by at least another 30%...oh man...nasty..

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:13 pm

Here is a shot of the river only a few blocks from my home..the river is normaly about 30' across. There was a golf course and a dirving range directly across. The bridge in the shot is usualy about 30' above the water..The one I need to cross to get home..

http://youtu.be/9yxonJ4nPJM

CPR has actualy parked a locomotive on a bridge so it doesnt wash away..
A few other shots..devestation everywhere..

http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/photo-galleries/calgary-flood-gallery-2013-1.1335965

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:19 pm

Jeeberz! Y'all really know how to throw a flood! Shocked

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:24 pm

Stupid people buiding cities, towns and communities on flood planes... Very Happy

I'd bet they will learn one day..or one can hope.

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:38 pm

Damn, the guys taking that freight train over that trestel bridge have some big brass ones Shocked

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:00 am

That is a ballszy move, going over the bridge...

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:51 pm

Unbelievable. Glad your home is far enough away to be spared from flooding.

The one picture missing from that gallery is the obligatory shot of someone going down Main Street in a rowboat.

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:39 pm

I wish we'd get some rain, but that's ridiculous! Stay safe, brother. Keep us posted.

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:27 pm

tomk1960 wrote:

Unbelievable. Glad your home is far enough away to be spared from flooding.

The one picture missing from that gallery is the obligatory shot of someone going down Main Street in a rowboat.

There are a few shots of the fire dept on thier jet boat on Macleod trail (our 1st street) and a few with folks on jet skis..but I havent seen any row boats..

But thanks guys, it looks like the worst is over, its going to take some time to mop up..

Hopefully this wont end up being a yearly thing..

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:25 pm

CowTownBiomed wrote:

Hopefully this wont end up being a yearly thing..

Growing up in Winnipeg where the Red and Assiniboine Rivers meet, they would flood yearly, causing all kinds of property damage throughout the city. Finally someone came up with the idea of a flood by-pass which diverted as much water as they wanted around the city. City never flooded after that. I'm surprised that Calgary doesn't have one - unless this is a 100 year flood.

Glad to hear Randy that everything is fine and you're okay.

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:07 pm

Yes that is how they are describing it..a 100 year event.
The last flood type event we had was in 2005, and it was about 1/3 of what we had this year.
We do have an extensive irrigation canal system but that was engineered to supply water to the agricutural comunity..not bypass the city..

Thanks for the well wishes..

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:40 pm

Good luck, hope you get back to normal soon, and without too much loss...

Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 11:01 pm

Made the news out here, hope you are all ok

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:29 am

So far no worries. The inlaws place in HighRiver (a small town ~50Km south of here) managed to survive unscathed..
I guess sometimes a mobile home (trailer park type) off the ground isnt always a bad thing.
They were lucky enough to be down in Oregon camping, so they are pretty tense to get home.

Still hasnt crested yet..yikes!! hopefuly the water will start to come down soon..

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:33 pm

CowTownBiomed wrote:

The bridge in the shot is usualy about 30' above the water..The one I need to cross to get home..

So tell us....how did you get home? Razz

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:05 pm

A huge detour, south about 10 miles to a higher bridge then back.
My 9km drive turned into about a 50km on..

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:17 pm

The Calgary Fire Dept building looks like a bar and grill.

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:38 pm

Man the aftermath cleanup is going to be horrific. That poor golf course is going to take years to recover.

Some very poignant pictures at this site:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=flooding+calgary&qpvt=flooding+calgary&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=EF531F326BCCE157356A2DB4F8B6F39211AAD8EC&selectedIndex=78

Has anyone here had their property damaged?

Dave

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:58 pm

All the members that I know here are all on high ground.
But those are only the ones I know..

Cougar Creek is west about 80 miles, and they got hit first. That little creek took out all 3 bridges on the #1 (trans Canada) highway..
That in itself is going to take months to fix..

The airial shot above shows the Stampede grounds in the center, with the Saddle dome and the downtown core..what a mess..

Good news is the water levels are now dropping..

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:29 pm

Man, I hope there weren't any horses at the Stampede!? What a difference one day makes in those two shots!

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:33 pm

The days of short sited city planning and building in 100 year flood plains are over. Not fun to look at that kind of destruction and misery.

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:11 pm

Kind of a century too late for that..all we can do is try to prepair for the next event.

What I find the most amazing is the amount of people lined up to help out.
No one can go to work, and the schools will be closed for a few more days. So I guess there really isnt anything else to do but help.

That and the stark contrast, either you were totaly unaffected, or you lost everying..no middle ground at all..

Lucky too that there were only 4 confirmed deaths in all that mayham..

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:32 pm

Keep dry bud....those are some knarly photos.....the aerial one especially.

Jebby

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:22 pm

Things are starting to settle down some here in cowtown, but the town of Highriver, is still totaly evacuated..doesnt look like people will be going home there anytime soon either.

I have befriended a young man who had his 99 R1 totaly submerged, and I am helping him get it going again (fingers crossed) Its kind of cool watching him learn as we wrench on his bike. With any luck we will be able to fire it up this weekend..

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 8:25 pm

CowTownBiomed wrote:

Things are starting to settle down some here in cowtown, but the town of Highriver, is still totaly evacuated..doesnt look like people will be going home there anytime soon either.

I have befriended a young man who had his 99 R1 totaly submerged, and I am helping him get it going again (fingers crossed) Its kind of cool watching him learn as we wrench on his bike. With any luck we will be able to fire it up this weekend..

Good to hear and Good Luck on drying the R1 out....you are a hell of a guy.

Jebby

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 9:00 pm

This gives a good idea of the amount of water we are dealing with. As of today we are down to the flood levels of 2005..

MB-5 Joined: Jun 29, 2013 Posts: 1 Location: Canada

Just got my 750F a month ago. Looks like a lot of our scenic rides have washed out roads. I was looking forward to riding in K country and Bragg Creak. My house was not affected, but my job sites downtown were. We just got power today. Crazy stuff here man.