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Parts of High River still under water as residents begin returning

Barbara Duckworth
By 
Barbara Duckworth
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Published: July 5, 2013

Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south side of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo
Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south side of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo

HIGH RIVER, Alta. — More High River residents will be allowed to visit their water damaged homes, but only from a distance because their neighbourhoods are still under water.

On July 4, a media tour of the worst affected areas in the north side of the community showed water is still halfway up car doors and most homes are unreachable except by boat. Some suburbs where water receded are still covered with grey silt and the streets smell like manure.

On July 3, 1,285 homes were processed in the central part of High River. About 70 percent of the approximately 13,000 people evacuated have re-entered the town. Volunteers are needed to help clean homes and remove garbage.

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Photo: iStock/Getty Images

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Nearly all the businesses are in various stages of recovery and some have reopened for business. Some examples of businesses that have already opened include an Esso gas station, a UFA Co-op food store, the High River Autoplex and Western Financial Group.

The town has also established a disaster relief fund at the Royal Bank of Canada. People can visit any branch and indicate that the funds are for the High River Disaster Relief Fund. A Paypal account has also been created so that donations can be made online. Look for the Paypal button on the town’s website at www.highriver.ca.

The province is managing the emergency, which has been in place since June 20. The City of Calgary lifted its state of emergency July 4.

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Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south sie of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo
Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south side of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo

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Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south side of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo
Buses were going to tour residents of these communities on the north side of High River so they could see what condition their homes were in July 4. There is no power, gas, potable water or other services. No one knows when the water will be drained away so people can start the clean up. First responders are still entering these communities by boat. The south side of town is drained and people are slowly going back to survey damage and start cleaning. The area smells like sour manure. | Barbara Duckworth photo

About the author

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth

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Barbara Duckworth has covered many livestock shows and conferences across the continent since 1988. Duckworth had graduated from Lethbridge College’s journalism program in 1974, later earning a degree in communications from the University of Calgary. Duckworth won many awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the International Agriculture Journalists Association.

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