Edmonton – A thunderstorm that passed through Edmonton Thursday evening and Friday morning has caused plenty of headaches, especially in the north end of the city, where portions of the Yellowhead were flooded.
Traffic was re-directed for several hours around the underpass at Yellowhead Trail and St. Albert Trail after two vehicles stalled in pooling water in the underpass.
The underpass had dried up by Friday morning but traffic was still being re-directed as Edmonton police waited for tow trucks to arrive to remove the vehicles. The vehicles were towed at around 7 a.m. and the underpass was reopened to traffic.
A vehicle was also stalled in a pool of water at an underpass at 127 Street and just north of the Yellowhead.
Edmonton Fire Rescue was called out to rescue numerous drivers from the roofs of their vehicles.
According to Environment Canada, 38 millimeters of rain fell on Edmonton Thursday evening.
- Life in the forest: How Stanley Park’s longest resident survived a changing landscape
- ‘They knew’: Victims of sexual abuse by Ontario youth leader sue Anglican Church
- Bird flu risk to humans an ‘enormous concern,’ WHO says. Here’s what to know
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
The rain also created a major mess for homeowners on the north end of the city, with several residential areas flooding.
Several long time residents in the Evansdale nieghbourhood had never experienced flooding until Thursday night, who watched as sewer water started coming up drains and toilets, flooding their basements in less than 20 minutes.
To make the situation worse, Russell Woroschuk had just finished renovating his basement.
“Just did a full basement renovation, new lino and linoleum, new baseboards, painted, and she’s all destroyed now. New furnace and hot water tank. We’ll see what happens,” said Woroschuk.
Margie Balaneski received a phone call from a neighbour late Thursday evening, informing her about the flooding.
“I came downstairs and the water was coming all over our basement floor, and we have two households of furniture down here and it’s all getting wet and stinky,” said Balaneski.
Balaneski then did what she could to help her neighbours.
“I just ran from house to house, trying to get everybody up and checking out their basements and getting anything lifted up off their flood that might be some value,” said Balaneski.
Both Balaneski and Woroschuk say they have flood insurance but are still concerned about how water has affected their new furnaces and other basement appliances.
Comments