For some residents of Fort McMurray, being told they have to evacuate their homes is an unfortunately familiar situation.
Thousands of residents have been forced from their homes following a severe flood on the Athabasca River.
When Stephen Nippard, originally from Mount Pearl, was told he had to leave by police his first thought was “not again.” In 2016, he was one of the thousands who were evacuated because of devastating wildfires.
(Officials assess flooding. Photo courtesy Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.)
As Nippard left his house and headed towards one of the worst-hit areas, he encountered what he describes as one to three feet of water on the main road, and about a foot of water on side roads.
Nippard says members of the community have come together to try to save what they can. He describes people getting together to fill up sandbags to protect the hospital and heritage buildings.
He says if any community can band together to get through a disaster, it’s Fort McMurray.
