It takes much more than a natural disaster to knock a community down.
Back in May Fort McMurray was evacuated due to a massive wildfire that destroyed a good portion of the city, burning homes and businesses in its path. Victims of that disaster were welcomed with open arms by many communities, including right here in Westlock.
This past week, Westlock had its own disaster when the town was hit with more than 100 millimetres of rain, resulting in flooded streets and basements.
It was a freak incident and without a doubt, incomparable to the scale of the devastation in Fort McMurray. But to anyone who was affected by the flash flood on Aug. 22, the result was the same.
Personal belongings, valuables, vehicles … you name it, rendered worthless thanks to Mother Nature’s wrath.
Insurance will help many home and business owners repair, but for sentimental items lost, money won’t cover it.
The damage inflicted by the flood runs the gamut from an inch or two of water inside a basement to whole rooms destroyed.
In truth, it will take weeks to fully evaluate the storm’s devastation. Even towards the end of the week, insurance adjusters were still tabulating the impact of the flood.
In light of the damage, many residents decided to make the best of a bad situation and even had a little fun.
At Sobeys, their staff took to the waters of its flooded parking lot in a canoe that was on display inside. There were also images of children and teenagers playing in the flood water.
That’s not to discount the seriousness of the situation, but the smiling faces captured in our photographs speak for themselves.
Whatever the full scope of the damage end up being, one thing we know for sure is the community will be there to rally around those hit the hardest.
And if the way our community came together to support those in Fort McMurray is any indicator of what’s possible, Westlock will be just fine.
