our city under water ~ alberta floods

i've been trying to write this post since saturday but haven't been able to find the right words.  i'm not sure that there are any "right" words for it.  on thursday last week the southern part of the province of alberta was hit with a massive rainstorm.  it was unrelenting.  so much rain fell that it devastated twenty-four communities, including our city, calgary.  the mountain towns of banff and canmore were hit very hard with the rising waters of the bow river and cougar creek.  the creek became a river and washed out the highway leaving canmore and all its residents cutoff.  twenty-four hours later the flood waters of both the elbow river and the bow river began to rise in calgary.  the entire town of high river was placed under a mandatory evacuation.  the entire town!  community after community along these rivers were evacuated.  and the water kept rising.  and the rain kept pouring.  when both rivers had finally hit their crests the entire downtown core, stampede park, the zoo, prince's island, and all communities on the banks of these rivers were flooded.  some completely wiped out.

today we are still in a state of emergency.  the rain has stopped.  the flood waters are beginning to recede.  our city is a mess.   but through it all, as is the case in any community faced with disaster, the people have come together.  for help.  for strength.  for support.  we will get through this.  we will go on.  and we will rebuild.

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thank you. thank you.  a million times thank you.

to the many city employees.

to the countless police and fire crews working countless hours.

to mayor nenshi.

to everyone and anyone helping.

and to those who have lost their homes.  their everything.

we are here for you.

your city is here for you.

we will rebuild together.