Doing our part

We couldn't get out to volunteer with the thousands of other folks who showed up at McMahon stadium today. Emmett doesn't meet the age requirement (18) and his Mom...well, carrying a 24 week old fetus is a pretty good reason for exemption. But we're doing our part by taking 2 minute showers, reusing our cups, avoiding the washing machine, walking instead of driving, staying off the phone, making cookies for police officers and working from home. Emmett's Dad went to work, even though it was closed, to be part of a skeletal crew to answer calls from frantic students. Emmett and his Mom stayed home...Emmett's downtown daycare was closed, and fortunately, his Mom's employer advised her to work from home.

The rain has stopped - for now- although there are thunderstorms in the forecast, and Auntie Clare reported another 12 cm in the mountains today. The rivers have crested and are starting to recede. The Elbow River (right next to where we used to live) has gone down significantly, and the Bow (1 km south of where we currently live) is going down gradually. There are power outages in several parts of the city, and about 65,000 Calgarians who were evacuated were allowed to go home today. Not to livable abodes, mind you. That will still take some time...

First Day of Summer - June 21, 2013

The first day of summer, and it's a wee bit wet in Emmett's home town. 

 

During a brief reprieve from the rains, Emmett and his parents venture out to witness first hand the wrath of the water.

 

It's unreal. All access to the downtown cut off. All businesses and residents from the core have been evacuated.

 It's eerie. The Bow River flooding streets and bridges, it's flow rate the highest it has ever been.

 It's completely unbelievable.

 

It seems like we are watching footage of somewhere else...yet it's just down the street.

 

Fortunately, the city has a pretty killer Mayor...

 

The joys of home ownership

Using an alarmingly simple technique Emmett and his mom solve the puzzle of how, during a recent thunderstorm, water found its way into their basement.