CALGARY- While areas along the Elbow River like Roxboro and Mission were hard-hit during the June flood, Bowness is also grappling with major damage.
The city says 90 homes in Calgary are candidates for complete demolition, including a number in the northwest community.
The Bryden family is now waiting on an engineer’s written report, condemning their home.
“There was a rumpus room down there, that is totally gone,” says Brian Bryden. “We’re not even allowed down there because the foundation is buckled and it’s unsafe.”
An apple tree save the family’s deck from floating downtown, and the river heaved the house right off its foundation.
While volunteers and emergency crews initially swooped in to help with the cleanup, big players like the Red Cross, Calgary Foundation and the United Way are now meeting with the city to decide how to rebuild.
Experts say charities will have to be very clear about eligibility and priorities.
“This is a very emotional issue, and everybody is in need,” says professor Loren Falkenberg from the Haskayne School of Business. “But not everybody can have money, and the first principal would be you can’t give it out equally.”
The Brydens say their insurer, Peace Hills, has only offered them a $15,000 payout so far. They hope flood relief comes their way—even if it’s just to pay for bulldozers.
“I need a starting point, and we’re just on hold with the insurance company, the government, everything else,” says Cheryl Bryden.
“We don’t know—we’re just waiting.”
Comments