Calgary flooding: check-in June 21, 2013 2:40 PM Subscribe
Calgary and Southern Alberta is experiencing the worst flooding in decades with 75,000 people displaced and the downtown core evacuated.
I'm hoping that MeFites can check in and say they are OK.
Some resources:
Environment Canada forecast for Calgary and weather radar
Map of flooded areas (CBC/Google)
Calgary Herald Live page with links.
City of Calgary home page with info.
Some resources:
Environment Canada forecast for Calgary and weather radar
Map of flooded areas (CBC/Google)
Calgary Herald Live page with links.
City of Calgary home page with info.
Thanks. I think this would definitely be worth a FPP. I just heard about this 5 minutes ago on Google News, because, you know, America.
posted by selfnoise at 2:45 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by selfnoise at 2:45 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am high and dry in Richmond/Knob Hill, near Marda Loop. The Garrison Woods Safeway was totally crazy today so we had to pick up a few things at the gas station.
I haven't actually seen any flooding firsthand, despite have been evacuated from my office in Mission yesterday, which is now apparently flooded a foot or so above the sidewalk. Hope nobody left anything in the parkade.
Just yesterday (well, today) I was stumbling around downtown at 3:00 AM like a jackass after a Sled Island show at the Palomino, totally unaware of the flooding that was happening just blocks away. I was able to get a cab home and everything. No traffic. If I was going any other direction than west I'm sure it would have been a different story.
The evacuation happened well before the flood waters came, so a lot of my friends are unsure how their property is doing. We will probably have a friend from Inglewood staying with us tonight.
Hope everyone is doing fine and has a place to stay.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:12 PM on June 21, 2013
I haven't actually seen any flooding firsthand, despite have been evacuated from my office in Mission yesterday, which is now apparently flooded a foot or so above the sidewalk. Hope nobody left anything in the parkade.
Just yesterday (well, today) I was stumbling around downtown at 3:00 AM like a jackass after a Sled Island show at the Palomino, totally unaware of the flooding that was happening just blocks away. I was able to get a cab home and everything. No traffic. If I was going any other direction than west I'm sure it would have been a different story.
The evacuation happened well before the flood waters came, so a lot of my friends are unsure how their property is doing. We will probably have a friend from Inglewood staying with us tonight.
Hope everyone is doing fine and has a place to stay.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:12 PM on June 21, 2013
arcticseal, getting to/from the airport to the inner SW will probably be very slow. 14 St is one of the few bridges still open, and I heard about really bad traffic.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:14 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:14 PM on June 21, 2013
selfnoise: "Thanks. I think this would definitely be worth a FPP. I just heard about this 5 minutes ago on Google News, because, you know, America."
I'm not sure if it's better or worse that I heard about it earlier than you because of somebody posting this story about a guy and his cat swimming to safety to Facebook.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:17 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure if it's better or worse that I heard about it earlier than you because of somebody posting this story about a guy and his cat swimming to safety to Facebook.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:17 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
My place is just outside the mandatory evac zone in Hillhurst, but I was asked by a very nice city of Calgary officer to leave around 2am last night. Little chance of the water making it to me, but I'm in the south with family now until the news tells me my place has power/is safe.
We are also saving water by drinking wine. As one does.
Hope everyone is dry and safe!
posted by right_then at 3:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
We are also saving water by drinking wine. As one does.
Hope everyone is dry and safe!
posted by right_then at 3:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Jebus. Is flooding in Calgary a normal/regular thing (obviously not to this degree)? I've never been there and know almost nothing about the geography of the area. And now I am off to read links.
Stay safe, all.
posted by rtha at 3:22 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Stay safe, all.
posted by rtha at 3:22 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I have a friend in Mission, she evacuated last night with her visiting parents from Romania. They were supposed to drive to Vancouver tomorrow but is flying tomorrow morning. My wife may delay her flight to mid-week to be safe.
Our office was closed so fortunately none of us were downtown today. Walked to the dog park in Altadore this morning and took some photos of the Elbow river flooding, will post the link shortly. Torrential rain.
Am drinking beer as a precaution against it being diluted.
rtha - Calgary doesn't flood that often, but it is flat in a lot of areas and people built on flood plains.
posted by arcticseal at 3:27 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Our office was closed so fortunately none of us were downtown today. Walked to the dog park in Altadore this morning and took some photos of the Elbow river flooding, will post the link shortly. Torrential rain.
Am drinking beer as a precaution against it being diluted.
rtha - Calgary doesn't flood that often, but it is flat in a lot of areas and people built on flood plains.
posted by arcticseal at 3:27 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Photos from this morning on the Elbow river. Footbridge is usually 15 ft above the water level.
posted by arcticseal at 3:47 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 3:47 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
Calgary is flat in the east, and has slightly rolling hills in the west. It's cut through by several river and creek valleys. The rivers coming in to the city are the Bow and Elbow, both fed by the Rocky mountains 100 km to the west. Downtown was built where those rivers meet.
The city looks kind of flat from the air, and certainly in Google Maps' terrain view, but if you go any direction from downtown (except along a river) you eventually hit the edge of a river valley and will go uphill about 100 feet (possibly incorrect estimate).
Downtown, and many older neighbourhoods, are on flood plains. However, most of the city is not. Further out, areas adjacent to the river are parks, *except* for one incredibly bad idea of a new development called Chapparal Valley.
I've been here since 1989, and the only flood I remember is the Elbow in 2005. This time, both rivers are flooding.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:48 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
The city looks kind of flat from the air, and certainly in Google Maps' terrain view, but if you go any direction from downtown (except along a river) you eventually hit the edge of a river valley and will go uphill about 100 feet (possibly incorrect estimate).
Downtown, and many older neighbourhoods, are on flood plains. However, most of the city is not. Further out, areas adjacent to the river are parks, *except* for one incredibly bad idea of a new development called Chapparal Valley.
I've been here since 1989, and the only flood I remember is the Elbow in 2005. This time, both rivers are flooding.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:48 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
arcticseal - that's sad. I love Sandy Beach, and jog through there a few times a month.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:49 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 3:49 PM on June 21, 2013
Link to swimming cat didn't work for me, here's another one.
posted by deborah at 3:55 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by deborah at 3:55 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've been evacuated (well, as Gus Haynes would say, my building was evacuated). Last night when I got home from Sled Island, the power was on, but this morning the power was shut down, and the emergency generator died around noon, so I had to go down 11 flights of stairs in the dark; luckily I picked up a wind up light / radio.
I walked up out across downtown and up Centre Street, and I'm safe and dry at my mom's place in the NE. Downtown was a ghost town - the traffic lights were all dark, but there was basically nobody on the street. Normally on a Friday, there are 125K+ people downtown.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:04 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
I walked up out across downtown and up Centre Street, and I'm safe and dry at my mom's place in the NE. Downtown was a ghost town - the traffic lights were all dark, but there was basically nobody on the street. Normally on a Friday, there are 125K+ people downtown.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:04 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Jebus. Is flooding in Calgary a normal/regular thing
A lot of not normal/regular weather events are becoming the new normal because climate change :-(
posted by Asparagus at 4:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
A lot of not normal/regular weather events are becoming the new normal because climate change :-(
posted by Asparagus at 4:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
If you look at the maps, this looks in places over the 100 year flood level along the Elbow River; not yet at the 100 year level on the Bow. Yet.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:13 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:13 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
House wise I am fine; up near Nose Hill. In the process of evacuating from my downtown office right now; it's a hard day - we are the 24/7 crisis support phone line for the city and we have to shut down and leave. Fortunate that we have friends in other cities who will help.
I know gompa had to evacuate.
posted by nubs at 4:22 PM on June 21, 2013
I know gompa had to evacuate.
posted by nubs at 4:22 PM on June 21, 2013
Stay safe and dry, folks.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:25 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:25 PM on June 21, 2013
The water level on the Bow versus normal levels: graph. Pretty shocking, especially given that it's a log scale.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:57 PM on June 21, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:57 PM on June 21, 2013 [7 favorites]
That graph is a jaw dropper.
posted by arcticseal at 5:03 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by arcticseal at 5:03 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
wow. i had no idea because i treated myself to a no news day or maybe wouldn't have known anyway. stay safe, gompa and others. this is me not being angry at climate change deniers /goes off to watch John Goodman Lose His Shit some more.
posted by angrycat at 5:03 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by angrycat at 5:03 PM on June 21, 2013
Yeah, this flooding is just crazy. Stay safe, Calgarians and other Southern Albertans. May it be over soon!
posted by Kevin Street at 5:04 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Kevin Street at 5:04 PM on June 21, 2013
Doing all right! It's actually sunny in my part of town (Calgary has a verrrry big footprint). My office building was closed and I sense Monday may be a work from home day too. It's so, so unreal, but the evacuation efforts have been amazing.
posted by Calzephyr at 5:04 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Calzephyr at 5:04 PM on June 21, 2013
I've noticed that like Houston when we had Hurricane Ike, everyone has been pulling together and helping each other. Kudos to the emergency services for a good execution of the emergency response plan and the Mayor for keeping everyone calm and well informed.
posted by arcticseal at 5:12 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by arcticseal at 5:12 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also, don't live next to me, bad weather clearly follows me around.
posted by arcticseal at 5:17 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by arcticseal at 5:17 PM on June 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
This flood is particularly severe, but flooding is a risk people here are aware of. It's not completely unexpected. There are flood plain maps on the city's website (which is unfortunately offline right now, and redirecting to a news blog).
And yes, people have been great. Lots of offers of support by text, social media, and among co-workers.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:22 PM on June 21, 2013
And yes, people have been great. Lots of offers of support by text, social media, and among co-workers.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:22 PM on June 21, 2013
We 'evacuated' from Inglewood last night, currently safe in deep SW. Downtown looks awful, the zoo has been evacuated, most roads leading to Inglewood are flooded, as are chunks of major roads. People have been great, everyone's coming together to do what they can. Stores are super busy but calm. Entire Stampede grounds are flooded, not sure about viability of Stampede this year.
posted by tatiana131 at 5:34 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by tatiana131 at 5:34 PM on June 21, 2013
Almost exactly one year ago we had massive flooding here. Sending good thoughts northward
posted by edgeways at 5:50 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by edgeways at 5:50 PM on June 21, 2013
I'm a disaster manager for an international not-for-profit, and I live and work in Lethbridge. My family is safe, and all of the evacuees from Lethbridge and County have been allowed back home (although remaining on alert in case of further evacuations). There are still some evacuees from the Kainai (Blood) Reserve. It's raining here, so it might get worse before it gets better, but at this moment it seems stable.
I will likely be heading to help in Medicine Hat tomorrow. Since Lethbridge is stable our team has been tasked with supporting MH, where up to 10,000 will be evacuated tonight. That way the central Alberta teams can focus on Calgary and High River, where the major brunt of the damage is. My heart goes out to the families of the three confirmed dead and one missing.
Just a reminder. If you have been evacuated, whether voluntarily or mandatorily, please CALL THE RED CROSS AND REGISTER at 1-866-696-6484. Loved ones from all around the country may be looking for you, and you registering means the Red Cross can connect you. It also helps Emergency Services know how many have been evacuated from each area, lets the municipality estimate the extent of the impact, etc. So many reasons! You can also call that number for more information on the disaster and ongoing response.
posted by arcticwoman at 6:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [10 favorites]
I will likely be heading to help in Medicine Hat tomorrow. Since Lethbridge is stable our team has been tasked with supporting MH, where up to 10,000 will be evacuated tonight. That way the central Alberta teams can focus on Calgary and High River, where the major brunt of the damage is. My heart goes out to the families of the three confirmed dead and one missing.
Just a reminder. If you have been evacuated, whether voluntarily or mandatorily, please CALL THE RED CROSS AND REGISTER at 1-866-696-6484. Loved ones from all around the country may be looking for you, and you registering means the Red Cross can connect you. It also helps Emergency Services know how many have been evacuated from each area, lets the municipality estimate the extent of the impact, etc. So many reasons! You can also call that number for more information on the disaster and ongoing response.
posted by arcticwoman at 6:08 PM on June 21, 2013 [10 favorites]
So glad to hear everyone is doing OK in this. I kicked around Southern Alberta for two years back in the early aughts (Calgary, Brooks, Medicine Hat, Taber, never got farther North than Drumheller) and it stole a big piece of my heart. Hang in there folks, the Creature family are sending good thoughts your way, too. I only wish there was more I could do.
posted by Doleful Creature at 7:03 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Doleful Creature at 7:03 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
We're fine up in the northeast, but I've got colleagues who were in the evacuation areas. One loaded his cats and a few essentials into a truck and drove up to Edmonton to stay with family. Another is on holiday, probably out of town, and we've texted and phoned, but we haven't heard from her. I'm certain she's safe, but I doubt her house is.
I normally work for Huge Oil Company downtown and would have had to stay home today, but I was scheduled to go up to Fort McMurray for the day, so off I went. On the flight back home to Calgary, the pilot asked for and was granted an approach that brought us in from the south side of the city, so that one side of the aircraft would see downtown and the other side would see the Bow River. I saw the downtown core -- jaw-droppingly awful. And flying past the Stampede Grounds was just sad. Barring a miracle, I don't know how they'll be ready for opening day. My son was supposed to shadow the lighting techs for the Grandstand Show as the lighting load-in was supposed to happen today. Obviously it didn't happen and it won't for a while.
Aha, arcticseal, so you're the culprit! And here I was all ready to blame climate change!
posted by angiep at 9:28 PM on June 21, 2013
I normally work for Huge Oil Company downtown and would have had to stay home today, but I was scheduled to go up to Fort McMurray for the day, so off I went. On the flight back home to Calgary, the pilot asked for and was granted an approach that brought us in from the south side of the city, so that one side of the aircraft would see downtown and the other side would see the Bow River. I saw the downtown core -- jaw-droppingly awful. And flying past the Stampede Grounds was just sad. Barring a miracle, I don't know how they'll be ready for opening day. My son was supposed to shadow the lighting techs for the Grandstand Show as the lighting load-in was supposed to happen today. Obviously it didn't happen and it won't for a while.
Aha, arcticseal, so you're the culprit! And here I was all ready to blame climate change!
posted by angiep at 9:28 PM on June 21, 2013
Thank god we gave Harper a helicopter tour. I'm sure that'll solve everything.
posted by neuromodulator at 10:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by neuromodulator at 10:19 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is flooding in Calgary a normal/regular thing
I've been in Calgary once. It was for about a week in 1990, roughly the same time of year, staying in a place right on the Elbow River ... and it was flooding then, too.
So yeah, as far as I'm concerned, it happens all the time.
posted by philip-random at 10:25 PM on June 21, 2013
I've been in Calgary once. It was for about a week in 1990, roughly the same time of year, staying in a place right on the Elbow River ... and it was flooding then, too.
So yeah, as far as I'm concerned, it happens all the time.
posted by philip-random at 10:25 PM on June 21, 2013
Thank god we gave Harper a helicopter tour. I'm sure that'll solve everything.
Obviously not. He has to shut down the flood monitoring agency, then cut rich people's taxes before this problem is truly solved.
Speaking of politicians, can you imagine us with Rob Ford instead of this guy?
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:44 PM on June 21, 2013 [8 favorites]
Obviously not. He has to shut down the flood monitoring agency, then cut rich people's taxes before this problem is truly solved.
Speaking of politicians, can you imagine us with Rob Ford instead of this guy?
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:44 PM on June 21, 2013 [8 favorites]
Thank god we gave Harper a helicopter tour. I'm sure that'll solve everything.
He's wearing his olive drab jacket, too. Gittin er done
posted by Hoopo at 11:07 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
He's wearing his olive drab jacket, too. Gittin er done
posted by Hoopo at 11:07 PM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
Homeboy Trouble...I was thinking the same thing! Our mayor is atotal rock star! So proud and amazed by him. He truly loves people and Calgary.
posted by Calzephyr at 5:19 AM on June 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Calzephyr at 5:19 AM on June 22, 2013 [3 favorites]
News is reporting today that the downtown core may be shutdown for a few days so check with your employer before heading in on Monday. City of Calgary website is hammered, but they are updating their FB page.
posted by arcticseal at 6:39 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 6:39 AM on June 22, 2013
Jebus. Is flooding in Calgary a normal/regular thing (obviously not to this degree)? I've never been there and know almost nothing about the geography of the area.
IIRC, there is a map on display of the lobby in City Hall that shows the hundred-year flood patterns, more or less exactly like what yesterday's flooding was.
My organization's 24-hour business was evacuated at 5:45 AM yesterday, by boat. The photos I have seen are surreal: the entire bottom floor submerged, trees in the neighbouring park all washed away.
I talked to my Calgarian dad last night who said (at 8:00 his time) it was a lovely late spring evening under blue skies with a few wisps of clouds overhead. Down in the SW, all was well, but his work did take him around the city. Downtown was a mess, and he mentioned a few neighbourhoods that were even worse off, but then paused and remarked idly that if you put a building in a neighbourhood called High River, you kind of are rolling the dice on flooding.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:02 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
IIRC, there is a map on display of the lobby in City Hall that shows the hundred-year flood patterns, more or less exactly like what yesterday's flooding was.
My organization's 24-hour business was evacuated at 5:45 AM yesterday, by boat. The photos I have seen are surreal: the entire bottom floor submerged, trees in the neighbouring park all washed away.
I talked to my Calgarian dad last night who said (at 8:00 his time) it was a lovely late spring evening under blue skies with a few wisps of clouds overhead. Down in the SW, all was well, but his work did take him around the city. Downtown was a mess, and he mentioned a few neighbourhoods that were even worse off, but then paused and remarked idly that if you put a building in a neighbourhood called High River, you kind of are rolling the dice on flooding.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:02 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's a beautiful sunny day here in Calgary, which is really at odds with the devastation you see in neighbouring communities. Went to Safeway Garrison Woods to buy eggs and only about 10 people waiting for the door to open. Main concerns seem to be when people can return home and if downtown will be open. Shelves are well stocked and trucks making deliveries, so although they're expecting to be busy, supplies don't seem to be an issue.
More rain forecast later, so although the river peaks seem to be coming down here, we're not safe yet and please think of everyone downstream threatened in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 AM on June 22, 2013
More rain forecast later, so although the river peaks seem to be coming down here, we're not safe yet and please think of everyone downstream threatened in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 AM on June 22, 2013
I'm safe and sound in the SW, only know a few people in the evacuated areas and they all were able to stay with family.
I had to go to work yesterday AM in the NW; even at 7.30AM the only NB bridges open were Centre Street upper deck and 14th St, and a 20-30 min commute took just over 3 h. Traffic was at a virtual standstill. On Crowchild near the Bow River I saw one guy in a pickup get rear-ended after he stood on the brake, leaned three-quarters of his body out of the window, and was taking photos/video with his phone.
I left early because by 3pm only one (Crowchild) SB bridge was open (but CBC was reporting the Crowchild bridge was closed, and 14th SB was open, but a coworker who had just left said it was closed?), and that was literally the only way home. My backup plan for years has been to taking the #1 east or west, then Sarcee or Deerfoot but those were both closed. I went from a dozen commute options to one, without that I'd be completely cut off from home, and while driving CBC was reporting that they had heard the Crowchild bridge was going to be shut down completely. I think that was when it sunk in how badly cut off parts of the city were from each other.
Driving home I saw twenty-thirty people biking and strolling (in the pouring rain!) on the paths along Memorial drive west of Crowchild. Lots of picture/video taking, and a few police officers striding along pausing to speak briefly to people.
And ugh, I joined Facebook Thursday because it was the one place local agencies were posting updates and could handle the traffic. I've already gotten at least a dozen emails from them!
There are lots of Calgary Zoo updates around, but has anyone from the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary been interviewed or given a statement? Their homepage is down and Facebook doesn't have any info.
Meanwhile its a beautiful day. Best to everyone, take care.
posted by variella at 8:40 AM on June 22, 2013
I had to go to work yesterday AM in the NW; even at 7.30AM the only NB bridges open were Centre Street upper deck and 14th St, and a 20-30 min commute took just over 3 h. Traffic was at a virtual standstill. On Crowchild near the Bow River I saw one guy in a pickup get rear-ended after he stood on the brake, leaned three-quarters of his body out of the window, and was taking photos/video with his phone.
I left early because by 3pm only one (Crowchild) SB bridge was open (but CBC was reporting the Crowchild bridge was closed, and 14th SB was open, but a coworker who had just left said it was closed?), and that was literally the only way home. My backup plan for years has been to taking the #1 east or west, then Sarcee or Deerfoot but those were both closed. I went from a dozen commute options to one, without that I'd be completely cut off from home, and while driving CBC was reporting that they had heard the Crowchild bridge was going to be shut down completely. I think that was when it sunk in how badly cut off parts of the city were from each other.
Driving home I saw twenty-thirty people biking and strolling (in the pouring rain!) on the paths along Memorial drive west of Crowchild. Lots of picture/video taking, and a few police officers striding along pausing to speak briefly to people.
And ugh, I joined Facebook Thursday because it was the one place local agencies were posting updates and could handle the traffic. I've already gotten at least a dozen emails from them!
There are lots of Calgary Zoo updates around, but has anyone from the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary been interviewed or given a statement? Their homepage is down and Facebook doesn't have any info.
Meanwhile its a beautiful day. Best to everyone, take care.
posted by variella at 8:40 AM on June 22, 2013
My fear is that people will be feeling the effects of this for a long time. Overland flooding is not covered by homeowners insurance and the federal assistance is incredibly insufficient for this kind of damage. Hopefully they figure something out.
posted by Hoopo at 9:05 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by Hoopo at 9:05 AM on June 22, 2013
My fear is that people will be feeling the effects of this for a long time.
Agreed. I know there will be massive community cleanup efforts, groups are organizing now to help returned evacuees clean up, and there will be fundraisers, but those only help up to a point.
posted by variella at 9:16 AM on June 22, 2013
Agreed. I know there will be massive community cleanup efforts, groups are organizing now to help returned evacuees clean up, and there will be fundraisers, but those only help up to a point.
posted by variella at 9:16 AM on June 22, 2013
My bad, it's provincial assistance that is too low for this. I'm not sure what the Feds can chip in.
posted by Hoopo at 9:41 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by Hoopo at 9:41 AM on June 22, 2013
The recovery process is going to be very, very long. I've just spoken with some colleagues, and we're (ha - maybe they is better, as my organization is still trying to get back to normal operations, much less support anyone else - we're supposed to be part of a team to provide emotional/mental health support at reception centres) starting to talk about how to manage things now with the folks in the reception centres; the city is starting to consolidate them. We expect that over the next 24-48 hours, as folks get to start going home, we will be dealing with a lower overall number, but more highly tramuatized/scared folks - the ones who have lost everything.
Worried about my staff and volunteers who are some of the thousands of folks displaced by this. Worried about what the folks who get to go home (or at least visit) today are going to find.
We have billions of dollars in damage which is going to be tough to find, but the emotional damage from this is going to be for a long time and much harder to measure.
Off to visit my office and make sure we are ready to resume operations.
posted by nubs at 9:51 AM on June 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
Worried about my staff and volunteers who are some of the thousands of folks displaced by this. Worried about what the folks who get to go home (or at least visit) today are going to find.
We have billions of dollars in damage which is going to be tough to find, but the emotional damage from this is going to be for a long time and much harder to measure.
Off to visit my office and make sure we are ready to resume operations.
posted by nubs at 9:51 AM on June 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
I just read this and thought it would be helpful to make a list of bridges that are OPEN.
Bow:
* Stoney Trail NW
* 14 St W
* Glenmore Trail SE
* Deerfoot, near Anderson/Bow Bottom (NOT the Calf Robe north of Glenmore)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:30 PM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Bow:
* Stoney Trail NW
* 14 St W
* Glenmore Trail SE
* Deerfoot, near Anderson/Bow Bottom (NOT the Calf Robe north of Glenmore)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:30 PM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I hope everyone is OK. The flooded footbridge over the Elbow that arcticseal posted really struck me, because I spent a couple mostly happy years of my childhood living across the street from that bridge, or one very like it (we lived right next to Rideau Park School).
posted by gamera at 12:34 PM on June 22, 2013
posted by gamera at 12:34 PM on June 22, 2013
Elbow River:
* Elbow Drive SW (Elboya Bridge)
* Glenmore Trail SW (reservoir causeway)
* Glenmore Trail SW (highway 8 near 101 St SW)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:35 PM on June 22, 2013
* Elbow Drive SW (Elboya Bridge)
* Glenmore Trail SW (reservoir causeway)
* Glenmore Trail SW (highway 8 near 101 St SW)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:35 PM on June 22, 2013
Centre St (over the Bow), the upper level at least, is not listed as closed, but I don't know if travel through downtown is possible
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:47 PM on June 22, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:47 PM on June 22, 2013
Picked a hell of a weekend to move, but both new place and old place are not in the affected areas, thank heavens. I wish there were something I could do to help those affected, beyond donating to the red cross, but I heard on the radio that they've got all the help they need at present.
posted by peppermind at 12:50 PM on June 22, 2013
posted by peppermind at 12:50 PM on June 22, 2013
And similarly, taking the Elboya bridge would probably land you in flooded Elbow Park.
(Sorry for the comment spam)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 1:00 PM on June 22, 2013
(Sorry for the comment spam)
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 1:00 PM on June 22, 2013
I wish there were something I could do to help those affected, beyond donating to the red cross, but I heard on the radio that they've got all the help they need at present.
Same here. Calgary Herald, CBC, City of Calgary, and Calgary Police Service are posting that donations & volunteers at evacuation centres, police stations, etc. are not needed and the best thing for everyone to do is to stay home.
http://yychelps.ca/ is creating a list of volunteers for cleanup efforts to begin as soon as it is safe to do so.
posted by variella at 3:31 PM on June 22, 2013
Same here. Calgary Herald, CBC, City of Calgary, and Calgary Police Service are posting that donations & volunteers at evacuation centres, police stations, etc. are not needed and the best thing for everyone to do is to stay home.
http://yychelps.ca/ is creating a list of volunteers for cleanup efforts to begin as soon as it is safe to do so.
posted by variella at 3:31 PM on June 22, 2013
Hi guys:
I wanted to share some news from our end of this situation: Distress Centre is back up and running, answering our own phone lines. I do want to ask that everyone who doesn't need to be there stay away from the downtown area though; while we are in a voluntary evac zone, the police keep blocking access points to our corner of downtown because of all the gawkers that want to come in. It's making it hard for our staff and volunteers to get in.
A couple of directions on the volunteer/donations point:
Volunteer Calgary has created a page where they are keeping track of donation requests and drop off points for a few organizations. The city has said very clearly that they do not need donations or volunteers at the reception centres right now.
Samaritan's Purse has also started taking a list of folks who are willing to volunteer; since we don't know who is behind YYC Helps just yet, we're working with Samaritan's Purse right now because I at least know they are credible and can get their information to someone who matters down the line. I expect I'll be trying to run down who is behind YYC helps tomorrow. To get your information to SP, phone 211 and press one at the prompt. I expect that when Volunteer Calgary can get back into their office they will start providing better organization and connection on this front; we will be working to connect with them as well to make sure there's some common access to information/entry points for this stuff and coordination behind the scenes.
We are asking that any social agency out there send an email to 211calgary@distresscentre.com to let us know if they are open; what services they are providing; what they might need; and a contact. If you know anyone involved with any organization in town, we want to hear from them.
Recovery is starting; while there is still lots of need at the reception centres, they are reopening portions of Hillhurst, Bridgeland, and all of Quarry Park, Riverbend, Deer Run, and Douglasdale are fully reopened. Some recreation facilities are reopening tomorrow as well.
As always, check Calgary City News for the latest and most relevant information.
posted by nubs at 9:48 PM on June 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
I wanted to share some news from our end of this situation: Distress Centre is back up and running, answering our own phone lines. I do want to ask that everyone who doesn't need to be there stay away from the downtown area though; while we are in a voluntary evac zone, the police keep blocking access points to our corner of downtown because of all the gawkers that want to come in. It's making it hard for our staff and volunteers to get in.
A couple of directions on the volunteer/donations point:
Volunteer Calgary has created a page where they are keeping track of donation requests and drop off points for a few organizations. The city has said very clearly that they do not need donations or volunteers at the reception centres right now.
Samaritan's Purse has also started taking a list of folks who are willing to volunteer; since we don't know who is behind YYC Helps just yet, we're working with Samaritan's Purse right now because I at least know they are credible and can get their information to someone who matters down the line. I expect I'll be trying to run down who is behind YYC helps tomorrow. To get your information to SP, phone 211 and press one at the prompt. I expect that when Volunteer Calgary can get back into their office they will start providing better organization and connection on this front; we will be working to connect with them as well to make sure there's some common access to information/entry points for this stuff and coordination behind the scenes.
We are asking that any social agency out there send an email to 211calgary@distresscentre.com to let us know if they are open; what services they are providing; what they might need; and a contact. If you know anyone involved with any organization in town, we want to hear from them.
Recovery is starting; while there is still lots of need at the reception centres, they are reopening portions of Hillhurst, Bridgeland, and all of Quarry Park, Riverbend, Deer Run, and Douglasdale are fully reopened. Some recreation facilities are reopening tomorrow as well.
As always, check Calgary City News for the latest and most relevant information.
posted by nubs at 9:48 PM on June 22, 2013 [4 favorites]
And because I just think it's funny (FB link, sorry, too tired to go find the original image host).
posted by nubs at 9:13 AM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by nubs at 9:13 AM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
We've had a lot of support from around the country; Edmonton has sent 100 cops and now 100 firefighters. And Toronto provided some hints on what a mayor can use if he wants to stay up all night.
If we're sharing spirit raising images, here's one.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:52 AM on June 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
If we're sharing spirit raising images, here's one.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 10:52 AM on June 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I suspect Stampede will be crazy as everyone tries to decompress after this week.
Friend posted a nicely photoshopped picture of a humpback whale jumping in the Bow river in his Facebook page.
posted by arcticseal at 11:19 AM on June 23, 2013
Friend posted a nicely photoshopped picture of a humpback whale jumping in the Bow river in his Facebook page.
posted by arcticseal at 11:19 AM on June 23, 2013
It doesn't matter if the Stampede consists of no more that a pony ride, a fiddler and three hay bales, it will be epic.
Here's a good graphic comparing normal flows, the 2005 "flood of the century", and this flood. Three days in, and the Elbow is just dropping below the 2005 level; the Bow is still 50% higher than 2005.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2013
Here's a good graphic comparing normal flows, the 2005 "flood of the century", and this flood. Three days in, and the Elbow is just dropping below the 2005 level; the Bow is still 50% higher than 2005.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:41 AM on June 23, 2013
The Neshi "Darwin remarks" linked by nubs is here, from the original broadcast. Scroll to 0:53, or catch this recorded-off-tv version.
(Can you guys please send him to Toronto once you're done with him? Please?)
posted by maudlin at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
(Can you guys please send him to Toronto once you're done with him? Please?)
posted by maudlin at 12:08 PM on June 23, 2013 [4 favorites]
The mayor of Calgary should make a tape where he smokes crack with Somali drug dealers, then donate the money raised to purchase it via Kickstarter to relief efforts.
posted by humanfont at 12:28 PM on June 23, 2013
posted by humanfont at 12:28 PM on June 23, 2013
(Can you guys please send him to Toronto once you're done with him? Please?)
He was in Toronto when this started and came home. I think he's ours for keeps now.
Just caught him during a press briefing; he puts up a map of the downtown core, with the areas that are off limits in purple: "Just want to say that this is the only time that purple is a bad colour in this city," he says.
For those that don't know, his campaign colours are purple
posted by nubs at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
He was in Toronto when this started and came home. I think he's ours for keeps now.
Just caught him during a press briefing; he puts up a map of the downtown core, with the areas that are off limits in purple: "Just want to say that this is the only time that purple is a bad colour in this city," he says.
For those that don't know, his campaign colours are purple
posted by nubs at 12:55 PM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Anyways, I hate to post back to back, but I just finished up a one pager with a bunch of numbers for emotional and mental health support for the evacuees or anyone else in the City right now. The City and Alberta Health seem to be doing a great job getting information out on where to go/how to deal with the physical damage.
I won't post the whole thing, because here are the two critical ones from my perspective:
Crisis line - 403-266-4357 - available 24/7; confidential; will talk about anything with anyone.
211 - provides information and referral for all community and social services. We're still working on finding out who is open and who is not, but 211 can help folks find resources.
Both are available 24/7 and have access to interpreters.
posted by nubs at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
I won't post the whole thing, because here are the two critical ones from my perspective:
Crisis line - 403-266-4357 - available 24/7; confidential; will talk about anything with anyone.
211 - provides information and referral for all community and social services. We're still working on finding out who is open and who is not, but 211 can help folks find resources.
Both are available 24/7 and have access to interpreters.
posted by nubs at 1:00 PM on June 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
I suspect Stampede will be crazy as everyone tries to decompress after this week.
I took a walk through Bankview in the moonlight last night (wanted to go to The Weir's house show, got there, felt too old and wimped out). There were a dozen or more huge house parties. I think people have already started blowing off steam.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:37 PM on June 23, 2013
I took a walk through Bankview in the moonlight last night (wanted to go to The Weir's house show, got there, felt too old and wimped out). There were a dozen or more huge house parties. I think people have already started blowing off steam.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 5:37 PM on June 23, 2013
My apt in lower Mount Royal is a-ok, just SW of the downtown evacuation area and up a hill too (phew!). My office downtown is outside the current evacuation zone and should still have power, but we've been asked to stay home anyway Monday as per the mayor's requests.
Should have remembered sooner to check and post here, sorry. We headed to Edmonton for the weekend to stay out of the fray and ride it out in the company of family.
posted by lizbunny at 5:49 PM on June 23, 2013
Should have remembered sooner to check and post here, sorry. We headed to Edmonton for the weekend to stay out of the fray and ride it out in the company of family.
posted by lizbunny at 5:49 PM on June 23, 2013
We're staying home tomorrow too, they'll assess Monday and let us know if we're going in on Tuesday.
posted by arcticseal at 6:53 PM on June 23, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 6:53 PM on June 23, 2013
It's so surreal working in the reception centre in Medicine Hat. It's beautiful and sunny, and there's no water anywhere around. You would never know from where we sit that there is a disaster going on, except for all the displaced people worrying about their homes and livelihoods.
What keeps me sane during disasters, and I say this as a disaster worker, is looking around at all the volunteers. Most of the people I've spoken to the last few days are volunteering because they themselves have been evacuated, and helping others keeps their minds on what's important. Also, it feels like every business in town has brought us food, supplies, phone chargers, whatever it is they an bring. Musicians have come to play for us. It really is amazing what people are capable of doing for one another. Disasters really do give an opportunity for communities to shine. Focusing on that is how I stay working in this field, anyway.
posted by arcticwoman at 11:11 PM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
What keeps me sane during disasters, and I say this as a disaster worker, is looking around at all the volunteers. Most of the people I've spoken to the last few days are volunteering because they themselves have been evacuated, and helping others keeps their minds on what's important. Also, it feels like every business in town has brought us food, supplies, phone chargers, whatever it is they an bring. Musicians have come to play for us. It really is amazing what people are capable of doing for one another. Disasters really do give an opportunity for communities to shine. Focusing on that is how I stay working in this field, anyway.
posted by arcticwoman at 11:11 PM on June 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
Someone from Reddit asking for help locating Marina Mohan
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:33 PM on June 24, 2013
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 12:33 PM on June 24, 2013
Stayed out of work today, might be in tomorrow but waiting to hear.
Went to Mission this afternoon, my friend got lucky, the water was below her floor by 3 inches. Her building is trashed though, ground floor will need gutting and the electrics are shot. Last time I saw devastation this bad was after Hurricane Ike.
Everyone was helping out and while building contents are on the street, so sad. It's going to be a while before Mission is approaching normality. My heart goes out to them.
posted by arcticseal at 5:28 PM on June 25, 2013
Went to Mission this afternoon, my friend got lucky, the water was below her floor by 3 inches. Her building is trashed though, ground floor will need gutting and the electrics are shot. Last time I saw devastation this bad was after Hurricane Ike.
Everyone was helping out and while building contents are on the street, so sad. It's going to be a while before Mission is approaching normality. My heart goes out to them.
posted by arcticseal at 5:28 PM on June 25, 2013
Skipped work today and went down to Inglewood to volunteer. I'm dead tired now, but we got a small business's inventory back above the standing water and drying out, so hopefully she can start to reopen soon. Wandered by my apartment and hopefully there will be power by Thursday and I can go back.
There is just so much to be done, but my heart is just full of the spirit out there. My friend was posting on Facebook about sorting out her sister's place in Elbow Park, then two hours later apparently a rugby team showed up; I think they were wandering around doing good deeds. All the jokes, like Nenshi pasted over Superman on the movie poster, or the folks in Sunnyside with signs taped up saying Need Electricity, Need Wine, Need Cute Fireman. Lanny Mcdonald turning up in Rideau Park to help clean up. ShitNenshiHasToSay on Twitter, where every tweet begins "I can't believe I have to say this,"... but yes, Bret Hart is patrolling for looters in Bowness. ... But no, your 1250 debit card is not redeemable at Nashville North.
That's my city.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [5 favorites]
There is just so much to be done, but my heart is just full of the spirit out there. My friend was posting on Facebook about sorting out her sister's place in Elbow Park, then two hours later apparently a rugby team showed up; I think they were wandering around doing good deeds. All the jokes, like Nenshi pasted over Superman on the movie poster, or the folks in Sunnyside with signs taped up saying Need Electricity, Need Wine, Need Cute Fireman. Lanny Mcdonald turning up in Rideau Park to help clean up. ShitNenshiHasToSay on Twitter, where every tweet begins "I can't believe I have to say this,"... but yes, Bret Hart is patrolling for looters in Bowness. ... But no, your 1250 debit card is not redeemable at Nashville North.
That's my city.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 8:06 PM on June 25, 2013 [5 favorites]
And now we have some train cars carrying diesel hanging on a collapsing train bridge...
Going to be a long hard summer I think.
posted by nubs at 7:31 AM on June 27, 2013
Going to be a long hard summer I think.
posted by nubs at 7:31 AM on June 27, 2013
It doesn't rain, but it pours this week. The mayor really laid into CP and their inspectors (or lack of them since the last lay offs).
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 PM on June 27, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 PM on June 27, 2013
If anyone besides me is useless at grunt work but wants to help:
The High River Evacuee Adopt-a-Family project
posted by peppermind at 8:26 PM on June 27, 2013
The High River Evacuee Adopt-a-Family project
posted by peppermind at 8:26 PM on June 27, 2013
Yeah, things took a turn for the weird today. In addition to the derailment, I got an email saying I could go back home, followed by another one delaying it because of an incident that turned out to be a fire. I'm able to go back home now, though, and the only damage was everything in my fridge, which was overdue for a cleanup anyways.
But this train thing. I updated a friend today by saying we were after the part where Denzel Washington says "it may be crazy, but you got any better ideas?" and before the part where he says "I'm getting too old for this shit".
Good on Nenshi though, for taking a strip off of CN. It's ridiculous that they operate in cities but with no accountability to them. The railroads are the last fiefdoms.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:22 PM on June 27, 2013
But this train thing. I updated a friend today by saying we were after the part where Denzel Washington says "it may be crazy, but you got any better ideas?" and before the part where he says "I'm getting too old for this shit".
Good on Nenshi though, for taking a strip off of CN. It's ridiculous that they operate in cities but with no accountability to them. The railroads are the last fiefdoms.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 11:22 PM on June 27, 2013
Quotes from Hunter Harrison, CEO of CP:
“We would normally have probably put divers in to inspect, but the current was too fast. Somebody would have drowned if they had tried to go in there, plus the current was so fast, and it's so murky, you couldn't do an appropriate inspection.”
The rail company didn't anticipate “a problem like this occurring at all,” said Harrison, who said it would have been “jeopardizing commerce” to hold back trains until divers could get in.
Because god forbid anything jeopardize commerce. We won't worry about jeopardizing lives and the environment.
posted by nubs at 11:29 AM on June 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
“We would normally have probably put divers in to inspect, but the current was too fast. Somebody would have drowned if they had tried to go in there, plus the current was so fast, and it's so murky, you couldn't do an appropriate inspection.”
The rail company didn't anticipate “a problem like this occurring at all,” said Harrison, who said it would have been “jeopardizing commerce” to hold back trains until divers could get in.
Because god forbid anything jeopardize commerce. We won't worry about jeopardizing lives and the environment.
posted by nubs at 11:29 AM on June 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Glad you're home, HT.
posted by arcticseal at 1:30 PM on June 28, 2013
posted by arcticseal at 1:30 PM on June 28, 2013
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posted by arcticseal at 2:41 PM on June 21, 2013