WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS....LITERALLY

Oh my goodness have things been crazy around here

I sooo apologize for not visiting much lately

SUMMER BUSY'NESS.....like probably most of you

 

But I'm going to throw this post together

and show you THE BIG FLOOD IN CALGARY ALBERTA

and surrounding areas

 

 

SO SAD !!!

 

and just a few weeks later everything had to be ready

for the GREATEST OUTDOOR SHOW ON EARTH

the Calgary Stampede

 

(FYI....point of interest, the Stampede parade is second in size only to the Rose Bowl Parade)

 

Here are some photos of the Stampede grounds DURING the flood

 

the rodeo grounds

 

the Saddle Dome

originally built for when Calgary hosted the Olympics

 

the water went up to the 10th row

all the concerts planned for the Stampede

had to be canceled

 

washed out bridges and roads all over the place

 

the town of High River...just south of Calgary

 

SO MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR HOMES

a friend of mine has a son who lives there

and she said he called her in a panic saying they were evacuating

as he gathered up his two little children

 and by then the water was up past his waist

 

They lost everything, but in their favor, they were renting

THE ZOO was also hit hard
YES !!!! they had to frantically move as many animals
as was possible
MOVE THEM I SAY
and for the rest of this summer the zoo will be closed
also had to lay off more then 200 workers

again, SO SAD

 

 

 I could show you many MANY more photos, but you get the idea
disaster

and as always during a disaster it brings out the BEST
and the WORST of people

I saw on the news (don't have photo) of a store in Calgary
who was charging $20 for a bag of ICE
guess the idea of charity didn't cross their mind

then you get good souls who do this

There have been thousands and thousands of volunteers
working together, showing love and support
and HELP

So now as everyone tries to get things back in order
and for some, sadly, it will take a LONG time
my heart just breaks for them

CALGARY STRONG
as they are saying

and NOW
the Stampede is up and running
and here is what they were trying to get the grounds
to look like.....as they once were

So grateful for loving caring people who volunteer
their time, resources and yes money

and that.....is how it's been in my neck of the woods
(Calgary is an hour's drive south of us)

this is NOT a news report, so I may not be 100% accurate in all the details
just how I remember it