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Yes, the Bow River heads south....so cities of Medicine Hat were affected.
The local cycling advocacy group in Calgary is informally have any cyclist provide info. on the status of damage to the cycling routes/paths across the city. This particular local reporter writes a regular blog/articles for the newspaper about cycling trends, infrastructure matters. I know he writes on other topics as part of his job as a reporter but he has a special fondness for cycling and has made a special effort to cover cycling for our city...it is his personal passion as well as professionally write on cycling matters. Here is his latest article with photos on the state of damage on cycling paths of which some of the longest routes runs through greenbelts/parks...etc. http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2013/...athway-system/
It is recommended every major city should have a local reporter who writes professionally on cycling matters for their readership. Because it is this type of situation which is so helpful to the broad community ..and also later for rebuilding efforts by the municipality.
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Thinking of you and glad you are safe.
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Local news coverage is reporting its going to take 5 billion dollars and 10 yrs to rebuild the areas effected by the flooding. Calgary was hit hard, but the town of High River looks even worse. Now that the water has receded the enormous task of cleaning up begins, but yet the Calgary stampede "come hell or high water" kicks off July 5. I predict a huge turnout at this years stampede.
Calgary asked for volunteers to help with the cleanup expecting 600 people, over 2500 showed up.
Speaks volumes of the Canadian spirit.
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I dunno about the Calgary Stampede: some people will come if only because they bought tickets well in advance, booked hotels etc. Some will be curious, etc.
Sad thing is that some locals staying at hotels with no place to stay, are asked to leave by Stampede time to accommodate tourists ata a higher charge rate. :(
Well true, it was awkward when the municipality asked for volunteers and got too many... So people just go directly to the hardest hit neighbourhoods to shovel out the mud in basements, move out damaged furniture, goods into dumpsters.
I just found out that our building got 18 inches of water in the basement area and now receding to 6 inches. But we do have to clean out our storage lockers. Buildings across the street got 4 ft. of water.
There is a whole neighbourhood just 2 kms. away that I can't bike through for months later for daily work commutes. It's completely submerged in water, meaning over 8-10 ft. of water.
Of course, now there's a problem of 6 derailed train cars stuck on a collapsing old rail bridge today.
The Mayor has advised people working in the downtown area for now, to walk, bike and minimize their use of cars: several traffic light intersections are not working, some roads blocked off because of flood waters. It's going to be sunny, hot and no rain for the next few days.. a good thing.
Most interestingly in High River a town south of Calgary, some residents are furious that the police has asked that gun owners turn over their guns temporarily to look after. After all, the guns will not be locked up ..since people have lost their homes. I wish that people would understand it doesn't take much if a gun unsecured gets into the wrong hands (and it could be a child also). In Canada, it is illegal to carry guns into a hotel, group home shelter, etc.
The police secured my neighbourhood while it was under evacuation orders/no trespassing zone for last few days.
Local cyclists have helpfully provided informal, ad hoc updates and photos on local bike route, bridge infrastructure (we have several crossing the 2 overflowing rivers) and path situations on the cycling group's internet blog forum. The power of the Internet that's for sure. That's where I get my latest municipal updates for the most accurate news.
(I should know: I work for the municipality.)
