State of Emergency

My city has been in a declared State of Emergency for 4 days now.

Last week, Calgary and much of Southern Alberta experienced unprecidented flooding as a result of unseasonably heavy rainfall and partially frozen/saturated ground during spring runoff from the Canadian Rockies.  Approximately 100,000 Calgarians were evacuated, the entire downtown was shut down, 24 neighborhoods flooded, roads & bridges closed, the last week of school has been cancelled ...

We've been fixated on the local news for days.  It is so surreal to be told the place you live is in a declared State of Emergency.  Read more here.

I'm very grateful to say that my family & home are safe.  We live on higher ground and have been spared.  We had a little water in our basement, but that was the result of a clogged eavestrough and was quickly remedied.  Some of my friends were evacuated, some were flooded, but everyone I know is at least safe.

My heart goes out to all my fellow Calgarians and Albertans whose lives have been so deeply and adversely affected by this devastating force of nature. 

Today the sun is shining and the waters are slowly receding.  Although the state of emergency has not been lifted, many are still displaced and an unimaginable amount of recovery and cleanup is ahead, volunteers are stepping forward in droves to help neighbors and strangers alike.  I'm very proud of this city and the people who live here.

Comments

[linda collingsworth]

You and your family are in my prayers. God bless you.

[Miss holly]

Oh my gosh....how horrible......I can not believe the pictures....you poor things...lots of prayers your way...

P.s. I adore your site!!

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Oh Kristyne, how awful for you and your city, hopefully things will be sorted soon!
So glad you're ok!
V xxx

[Paula]

Prayers to you and your friends / family.

[Dorte Kreiberg]

Oh my dear, that is awful, I live in Denmark and we hear mostly of the flods in Europe, I do hope it gets better soon for all of you.
I appreciate your site very much, thank you all my best wishes to you and every one you know over there.

[Jennifer B]

Best to all our Canadian friends affected by this flood!

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

Love and prayers to you, your family, and all of Calgary. We lost our home in Texas almost 5 years ago to Hurricane Ike, so I understand the devastation and loss. I'm so sorry your town is going through this. Big, big hugs to you!

[Susan S]

God bless you all up there in Canada!! We hope the water receeds and things can get back to normal if it can ever be normal again! We here in Colorado have been suffering with forest fires that will not quit!! Here in Colorado Springs 511 homes have been burned to the ground!! Yet, with faith in God and determination we will rebuild this community too!!! Please know we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!

[Christine M]

Stay safe Kristyne.

[Tara]

Kristyne, I am now in Edmonton, from Calgary. My brother and sister live there. My husband is Artillery Reserve and has been deployed there for relief efforts. My hopes and thoughts are with all of you. Glad things aren't worse for you. Albertans come together when we are needed. We can even get Stampede ready after a disaster like this in short order. "Come hell or high water!"

[Nita]

I go to Calgary now and then. It is a lovely city. We've been watching the flooding on the news. Happy to hear your home is safe. (((Hugs))). Nita

[Kathy]

I so so sorry to hear this - glad you are safe though and my thoughts will be with many who are going through this horrible time!!

[Miss Nancy]

I heard about this flooding somewhere in the news. I am so sorry. Please be safe. Praying for a speedy recovery for everyone.

Have a super great day!

[Sandy D]

We have been following what has been going on in Calgary and surrounding area.We live in Eastern Canada and the News Channels have been very good in keeping us informed. It is unbelievable the damage that has been done. Ours thoughts are with everyone that is affect by this disaster.

[Monique]

Very glad you are safe..
I have been watching as we know people there..

Thank goodness Alberta is one of the richest Provinces..they will all be able to help!

[greg]

Those photos are heartbreaking. Glad to hear that you, your family and your home are safe!

[Xanthe Grundy]

Hi Kristyne, sorry to hear of the flooding - it's a nasty business :( I live at the Gold Coast, Australia currently, but formerly from Brisbane and Emerald which, between the two of them, have had terrible flooding nearly every year for the last five years. Some people have lost their homes and had them rebuilt, only to have them flooded even worse the following year. Thankfully I haven't been affected personally either, but my sister and close friends were. It certainly makes a mess of things! But glad to hear you haven't had to much of a problem.
Xanthe

[Dana]

Oh I'm so sorry you and your city are going through this. We had the same thing here in Grand Rapids, MI last April. Like you, we had maybe a 1/4 inch of water in our basement. It got the carpeting really wet, but that is all. But for folks by the Grand River, yeah...they were under water! Even 2 months later, there are 'ponds' where there weren't ponds before. Everyone in your area has my prayers <3

[Jeanie]

Completely devastating! Glad to hear you and your family are safe. I feel awful for all the people in the swollen water ways:( Stay safe!

[Pattie]

I'm happy to hear your and yours are safe, but the flooding breaks my heart. I'm in southern California and we had to evacuate a month or so ago, due to wildfires (that was WAAAY too close.) I think we forget that we mere mortals are no match for Mother Nature.

Continued safety for you and your family, and I'll be sending prayers northward for our Canadian neighbors.

[Sheila]

We feel your pain here in the midwest of the USA! We get everything here....floods, tornados, hurricane winds, fires, scorching heat, drought and even earthquakes. Two summers ago, we lost entire towns and countless farms. People lost everything and many were living out of their cars. No news people, no government intervention, no celebrities pleading our plight. We did what we always do....help each other.

You get our prayers, indeed from the USA. I'm happy you and your loved ones are safe.

Sheila
http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com

[Terri in BC]

I didn't realize you were from Alberta. My brother and his family are all located in Calgary as well, and high and dry too, but my boss's sister and her family lost a total of 6 homes in High River. Take care and stay safe, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Carolyn]

Good to know you and yours are well...prayers offered up for all affected!

[corinne]

You 're in our thoughts and prayers from upstate New York .

[Keiko]

How aweful it is! I'm glad to hear that you and your family are safe. Am I crazy to also worry about your beautiful handmade creations and precious fabric??? Thank God that your house is not flooded.

[Linda L. Tate]

I am so sorry to hear about the floods and I'm happy that you and your family are safe. My prayers go out to everyone who was effected by this state of emergency. Keep us posted.

[Margaret]

Those pictures are unbelievable. I didn't realize that you live in Calgary, so I didn't have a "personal connection" to this disaster. I'm glad you and your family are well, but my heart goes out to those whose homes have been flooded.

[Lisa]

Thank goodness you are safe!

[Lucy]

Kristyne, I'm glad you and your family are safe. It is very hard to see wonderful Calgary this way.
Prayers and peace to all.

[Melissa]

Thinking of you and your family as well as everyone else affected. BC doesn't seem to be hit as hard but I do live in the Okangan so I'm not as close to the Rockies.

[Bari Jo]

I'm so sorry so much is going on where you live. I am thankful you are ok and will pray.

[Esther F.]

Oh my! This looks really bad! I have never personally been in a flood, but there was some serious flooding of the main rivers 15 years back. I am so glad to hear that you and your loved ones are safe. You will be in my thoughts.

[Anita]

I am so thankful for you that your home is safe and all your family and friends are safe. My husband is deployed to fight the floods from here at CFB Edmonton. He is currently helping in Medicine Hat but some of my friends' husbands are in Calgary. I have family in Calgary as well and they and their homes are all safe thank goodness. We in Edmonton are thinking of all of you and our hearts go out to you our fellow Albertans.

[Marja]

Hi Kristyne, I'm happy you and your family and home are safe, but sad to read about the people in your city who are less fortunate. You are in my thoughts! Take care and stay safe!

[Sunnybec]

It's been the same in Europe, it's been a terrible year, our weather is changing and not for the better. Stay safe. Linda x

[Hildy]

Oh Kristyne, I'm happy you , your family and your home are safe. The same happen here in Germany a few weeks ago and a lot people lost everything. It's a really sad thing but nature's a force you can't beat. Send me love to Canada, Hildy

[Thimbleanna]

Glad to hear you are safe Kristyne! How did the new house fare?

[Ann Ostermann]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. It was 20 years ago we went through a flood. We evacuated our house in town on July 7, 1993. Luckily we moved out before the water moved in. Now we live in the country on top of a hill! (And out of the flood plane.)

[Sakae Yoshihara]

I pray to the family of you and you, and your town...

[SuzK]

I didn't realize you were in this area - this is so sad - hopefully things will return to normal soon - my thoughts and prayers go to all those affected by this.

[Debbie]

God bless you and your community. I grew up in upstate NY and remember horrible floods on the Delaware River; the power of water is so devastating. Glad you are safe and hope the waters recede soon!

[Debra Masek]

OH, my!! These are the first pictures I've seen of your area. We, too are experiencing flooding in my area which is the northeast corner of Iowa...my home is as yours...on higher ground so all is well...I am attempting to leave the valley today which has been flooded since Saturday evening. Please be safe!!! Prayers for all those who are affected by this act of Mother Nature.

[Claudia Oliveira]

I´m very sad to see a city so devastated. I hope everyone is well soon and can return to their homes. Glad everything is well with you and your family. hugs

[Joana]

My heart goes out to all those dealing with the flooding. It's so good to hear that people are stepping forward to help. I'll be praying for all of you as you start recovering and rebuilding.

[Jennifer]

Thanks for posting! I'm glad your family is spared, but it will be awhile before everything is back to normal. Stay in touch!

[L]

Have you seen Quilts for Calgary, read it here: http://northhillsquilter.blogspot.ca/2013/06/quilting-for-calgary.html and facebook page is on here as well: http://sweetp-paulette.blogspot.ca/2013/06/you-can-help.html

[Paula K]

Thoughts and prayers from the people here in Oklahoma are with you and your family.

[Katie]

I've been watching every bit of news on the floods. It's just unimaginable. I'm glad to know that you are not in harm's way. I feel for all the people who are not so lucky. My grandma is safe as well, she lives a block from Market Mall, where she has an incredible view of a very flooded bend in the Bow River but is much too high to worry about damage.

xoxo
Katie

[Kathy in San Diego]

We're thinking about you and wishing you and yours well. Glad your home was not flooded. Hope the entire community gets through this with minimal hardship, though it looks pretty bad. You're in our thoughts and prayers! Please let us know if we can help.

[Willa]

So glad your home was not affected. I have friends down there too who was also lucky to be higher up. The images are really devastating...my heart goes out to our neighbours to the south.