Savannah and I drove out to Siksika Nation this morning to have a first hand look at the situation there following the flooding of the Bow River last Thursday.
A dear lady named Margaret Waterchief waited for us at the gas station just inside the reserve and was our guide and ambassador to get us to the volunteer center at the high school.
Once we were signed in and received our wrist bands Margaret brought us over to the Sportsplex, the disaster relief headquarters.
We heard that there were 1000 people out of their homes due to the flooding so we expected to see the arena full of cots and people. Savannah brought her guitar and a soccer ball. We were hoping to entertain the kids. What we found instead was astonishing. The arena was packed with donations of every kind. There was a ton of clothing, boxes of diapers piled high, toiletries, shoes and lots of other items. There were also hundreds, maybe a thousand unopened garbage bags full of clothes still needing to be unpacked. Donations were still coming in regularly when we were there. Volunteers were hard at work unloading and sorting the donations. Its heart warming to see the generosity of people coming to the aid of those in need.
We did eventually find some of the 1000 victims of the flood who were out of their homes in the gym part of the Sportsplex and outside the Sportsplex in tents and a travel trailer. Many of the evacuees are staying with family and friends but there are a number at the Sportsplex.
We had the opportunity to talk with some of the families at the Sportsplex and hear their stories.
X told us about the police knocking on her door at 3am last Thursday telling her and her husband that they had 5 minutes to evacuate their home. She and her husband are now camping. They are forbidden from returning to their homes because of possible structural damage and because of contamination from their sewer backing up in their home. They have no belongings at all except for a tent, a mattress, blankets, pillows and a lawn chair. She can't wait to get back home. She's heard stories of looters coming up the river. Security has now been tightened around the reserve. She asked for prayer that the people would have hope and that they could return to their homes soon
Y was given a camper recently so that her, her husband and their many young children would have a better place to stay than in the tents. Y told us a similar story of their evacuation. She was given 5 minutes to leave her home. She and her husband scrambled to find their kid's shoes and teddys and whatever else they could grab before being escorted out of their home. The kids find the time long. Her eldest son says that he feels homeless. We left them a soccer ball and some cookies.
W is staying inside the Sportsplex with her many young children and her parents. She was exhausted with caring for her kids and the lack of privacy for the last 8 days. She had tears in her eyes when she was talking about her situation. Years ago, she had a fire at her home and she was out of her home for many years. Now this flood! And she's heard a report that her foundation was cracked and they may have to destroy the home. They told her that she would be there at least 2 more weeks. When asked what she would need she said dinosaurs for 2 of her children and a barbie for her youngest daughter. We had a bag of stuffies that we had brought with us and she was very appreciative when we told her to choose as many as she wanted. We prayed with her for courage to continue and hope and peace for her and her family and a quick return to her home or relocation to a new home.
Please pray for the people of Siksika that inspections and decisions on housing would be made quickly. Pray for peace. Pray for hope for these wonderful people.
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