Broken view; broken hearts

Times Contributor 

 

Hidden Valley Golf Resort Residents were allowed to bus into their cabin sites on Sunday, July 7 to see the damage the floods have done. 

“Everyone was pretty tearful and emotional,” said Resort Manager Dick Burgess. “But it helped them get a better idea of what we have been telling them.”

Burgess said Health and Safety inspectors had reviewed the site last week and classified it as highly dangerous with potential contaminants hazardous to health. There are serious safety issues resulting from the construction-related damages and flood debris in all areas of the resort.

“The resort looks a lot like a war zone. There are cottages and sheds strewn all over the place. It is truly devastation. The neighbour’s garage was rammed into our garage and our garage has either wiped out the deck and the hot tub, or become an extra room on the cottage. Only time will tell,” said homeowner Earl Best about what can be done.

The Homeowners executive states that RCMP along with Health Canada and the Fire Chief from the Siksika Nation cannot release access to the Resort until Health Canada has made specific tests to ensure the safety of all who enter, which is expected to take several weeks. Until approval is given hands are tied and access is blocked. Neither insurance adjusters nor residents are allowed to enter their home or remove any items from their home or property due to contamination concerns. Contamination concerns also extend to items removed or touched, so items cannot be taken to another location. Burgess said there are about 30 residents that utilize the resort as their primary home.

“Yesterday gave some of them a bit of closure, but we are going step by step and day by day,” said Burgess.

There are three to four feet of silt in places. Over 15 pumps are being employed to pumping out pockets of water and roadwork has begun to ensure it is safe for the buses. Arborist crews were attempting to take care of some dangerous trees that may fall on the route. The Flood Advisory Team was in again assessing more of the cost of the damage to the infrastructure. 

The big 8” pump will run all night to move water from the left side of the main road at the entrance culvert to the right.

Some homeowners secured the $1,250 disaster funding, but no other assurances or help has been extended by government. 

“It would be nice to have a Premier who believed her word is her bond, but that not the case,” said Best.

The residents are meeting with on July 9 in Milo Community Hall with MLA Jason Hale and other government officials to try and get some concrete answers.