As the floodwaters began to recede in Grand Forks over the weekend, so too did water-logged homes and businesses, as well as thoughts of the grim recovery ahead.
By midday on Monday, more than 2,000 people in the Kootenay-Boundary region . About 1,000 remain forced out by evacuation order and authorities promised that most of those would be home by the end of the day.
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But even for those who can return, it wonB次元官网网址檛 be back to normal just yet.
Some neighbourhoods, like Ruckle, were flooded by midweek, with floodwaters rising as high as windows.
Emergency operations centre head, and fire chief in dryer times, Dan Derby admitted that the damage to those homes could be extensive.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really an issue that theyB次元官网网址檝e been in standing water for an extended period, and then the sewerage concerns,B次元官网网址� said Derby Sunday.
Parts of the city sit on a combined storm and sewer system, which raises concerns for sewage flooding out onto the roads.
Ruckle first flooded after a dike breached Thursday.
Assistant fire chief Kevin McKinnon, who was driving around the neighbourhood as the floods were peaking Thursday, said that the waters rose unbelievably fast.
B次元官网网址淚t had come up probably between 45-60 centimetres in half and hour,B次元官网网址� said McKinnon.
Although officials will wait for the water to go down as much as it can, a B次元官网网址渟ignificant amountB次元官网网址� will have to be pumped out once the water-saturated ground canB次元官网网址檛 absorb anymore.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to say what might happen to the roads and the underlying infrastructure, thatB次元官网网址檒l have to be assessed once the water is down,B次元官网网址� said McKinnon.
But the damage could be worse, Derby noted.
B次元官网网址淭here wasnB次元官网网址檛 moving water in that area, which is a good thing. It was standing waterB次元官网网址� not like other areas where it literally dislodged from foundations.B次元官网网址�
Over in downtown, Sunday morning saw the evacuation order lifted for 175 properties.
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As the hundred or so , BC Wildfire crews, contractors and volunteers stepped up to help empty sandbags and clear away debris.
The Valhalla unit crew, based in the Kootenays, initially came midweek to help with flood preparations. The firefighters set up the tiger dams B次元官网网址� big, orange tubes both quicker to set up and harder to dislodge B次元官网网址� around town.
Unit leader Daniel Klein said that although the flood response differed from the firefighting work that his crew would soon be doing, it helped built unity and coordination before their season kicked into full swing.
B次元官网网址淭he deployment like this really helps build that work ethic, cooperation,B次元官网网址� said Klein.
B次元官网网址淒oing this interagency work with public works, local fire departments, contract crews really just builds a nice network of interagency support and moving into fire season it becomes more efficient.
On Sunday morning, 40 BC Wildfire and contract firefighters began to separate out sand and bags before Grand ForksB次元官网网址� public works crews loaded it into truck to cart away.
Derby told reporters Sunday that he was expecting downtown to be B次元官网网址渙pen for businessB次元官网网址� by Tuesday morning, although he admitted that heavily damaged buildings could stay shuttered for months.
Further along Market Street, the cityB次元官网网址檚 main commercial strip, Jogas Espresso Cafe owner Roger Soviskov took stock of the damage.
B次元官网网址淭hey told me I was $200,000-250,000 deep. It could be more when they start opening up the floor,B次元官网网址� said Soviskov.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a 1920s building so it could be compromised.B次元官网网址�
Although sandbags helped protect the front, water flooded into Jogas from the back, which faces the river.
B次元官网网址淚t came up in the back B次元官网网址� the toilet and drains and shower,B次元官网网址� said Soviskov.
Soviskov is luckier than some B次元官网网址� he has insurance, both for the damage caused by the flood and whatB次元官网网址檚 called business interruption insurance, to cover the revenue he lost while shut down.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got power and water and all that, I just donB次元官网网址檛 have a sanitary building to operate,B次元官网网址� said Soviskov ruefully.
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