WAKAW, Sask. – Rising floodwaters in the R.M. of Fish Creek, located near Wakaw, have prompted the reeve and residents to call for flood control programs to divert the overwhelming flow.
Jan Jacobs used to own a herd of cattle, but due to massive drought in the region, he sold them about five years ago. Now he has more water than he can handle.
“The first couple of days, it’s unreal. You think, this is not happening to us because you read about it and you hear something about it on TV. You think, hopefully it won’t happen to us, but now it’s happening,” said Jacobs.
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His home is now surrounded by water, washing out a vital road leading directly to his driveway.
“I want the authorities to take action now and don’t spend too much time on meetings and making vague promises because we need this to be taken care of.”
Floodwaters rose swiftly, taking mere hours to overwhelm his property.
Using quads, Jacobs’ family plucked their vehicles out from the mud and muck and carted away suitcases filled with whatever clothing they had time to grab.
“We have a deductible we pay the provincial government and they assist us, but just to rebuild this road – this is the third time we’re going to be rebuilding this,” said Dennis Sawitsky, reeve of Fish Creek.
Sawitsky estimates the cost of rebuilding the vital road could reach $200,000 or more.
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