CALGARY- A mandatory evacuation order was put into place on Thursday morning, affecting the hamlet of Bragg Creek.
“It’s absolute devastation. We’ve never had water here,” says business owner Marina Cooke, whose restaurant was flooded. “Businesses, homes, everything is just flooded and gone.”
By late afternoon, the Elbow River had risen nearly five metres, and had yet to crest. As of 5 p.m. the river was 3.5 metres higher than usual.
“It’s absolutely a disaster, and it’s going to be for a few days,” Cooke adds. “The snow pack has been melting down from the mountains, so we’ve still got a lot of water coming.”
About 600 people were ordered out, and residents say they had little warning of the devastation to come.
“When I came down at 6 a.m. there was a wall of water with trees coming down the river, and the hamlet, White Avenue promptly flooded,” recalls Rocky View councillor Liz Breakey. “We have never seen this ever, never even in the worst time.”
People in the area are used to flash floods, and Breakey says that might have been part of the problem.
“There are a lot of homes right on the river. The wetlands have overflowed, the roads. People did not take it seriously, and have put themselves in danger.”
A helicopter had to be called in to rescue some residents trapped by water. Five people in total had to be assisted by county personnel.
There is no word yet when people might be allowed back to their homes.
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