One of the hardest hit locations is Calgary, Alberta. The downtown core is a ghost, at least 75 thousand people have been evacuated, the zoo is inundated, the Calgary Stampede grounds are under water, the Saddledome was flooded, as are several neighborhoods in the city.
If you've seen the pictures, the devastation is widespread. I saw one of the Ghost Lake dam, west of the city. I used to live in Calgary, and went fishing on Ghost Lake, and have never seen water pouring over it to that extent.
And Calgary isn't alone. The mountain resort of Canmore also saw flooding, as did the Calgary bedroom communities of Okotoks, Bragg Creek, Black Diamond-Turner Valley and High River, where the picture above was shot of a man trying to save his cat. Fortunately, both made it.
And even when the waters recede in the Calgary area, parts of the province downstream are now getting ready to evacuate. That includes Medicine Hat, which is on the South Saskatchewan River. From there, the river heads to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which could also see flooding, and north to Prince Albert.
Even after all the years away from there, I still have friends in Calgary. They're lucky. They were high enough to avoid major flooding. I hope. 13 hundred troops have been brought in to help with security, and both governments will be doing what they can. But recovery is going to take years, and lots of dollars.
One of Calgary's biggest tourist draws, the Stampede, is slated to go in a few weeks, but looking at the pictures of the Stampede grounds, I'm not so sure. Officials also had to evacuate animals from another popular destination, the Zoo.
To all in the affected areas, I hope you stay safe. I'm sure the city and all affected areas will recover.
'Nuff said
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