Estevan residents are well-known for their generosity.
On so many occasions, we have come through for fundraisers, campaigns and other calls for financial support. There are so many wonderful facilities that have been constructed through the generosity of local residents, and so many organizations have accomplished so much thanks to the donations of Estevan’s people.
And we will be there when our family, friends and neighbours are in need of assistance.
A summer storm dropped five inches of rain in a couple of hours on the Energy City on July 10. The precipitation levels were bad enough, but it created a very serious situation since the ground was already saturated from previous rains.
Once the rain subsided and people could see the flooded streets, they could safely assume there would be a lot of flooded basements.
It didn’t take long for stories to surface about the generosity of others. People took to social media to share their stories of how others dropped by to clean out water and sewage from their basements, or to remove carpet and other items damaged by the flood waters.
Other people trudged through the deep water to push vehicles stuck in the flooded streets. While some of these motorists were gawkers who decided to be an inconvenience by looking at all the water once the heavy rains stopped, others were motorists who were driving in the city when the storm hit, and suddenly found themselves in trouble.
You can be sure that more stories will emerge of the kindness of others over the next few weeks.
The Canadian Red Cross has set up a flood relief centre at the Civic Auditorium, so that flood victims can ask questions or pick up a cleanup kit. The Red Cross was also taking donations for those affected by the floods.
The Salvation Army was another agency people could turn to if they needed food, or if they needed to replace furniture or other items damaged by the water. Even though the food bank’s shelves are depleted, the Salvation Army won’t allow people to go without during a time of need.
We understand the severity of a flood. The flood of 2011 is still fresh in the minds of so many in this region, when residents of several rural municipalities were evacuated, much of Roche Percee was under water and Benson was on the brink of destruction.
The people of Gainsborough have their flood stories to share, too, after the village was evacuated due to the flooding they encountered two years ago.
And just two days after the storm hit Estevan, the village of Arborfield, in northeast Saskatchewan, was evacuated because of a flash flood.
Estevan will persevere through the latest heavy rains. We always do. And those who have sustained losses will get by with a little help from their friends.
