Community Effort Helps Protect Vanderhoof

By 250 News

Sandbags are all that stand between this motel and the Nechako River in Vanderhoof (photo Opinion250 staff)

The residents of Vanderhoof have constructed about 3 kilometers of sand bag dikes around their community using upwards of 140,000 sand bags. Dave Lafleur, the information officer for the Emergency Command post set up to deal with the flood of the Nechako  says  “This town has really pulled togther.”

Directing the entire flood control efforts for the community is Joe Ukryn, who  is also the Administrator and Treasurer for Vanderhoof.

On Sunday, Ukryn says the community came out to help shore up the dike system “We had over 350 people filling and building sand bag walls around this town.”  He says there was  a great deal of food donated to feed the  volunteers “There was so much food donated by the various church groups and citizens alike that I’m sure we could have lasted for a month without bringing in any food.”

The water has come from many different sources including a small creek that has backed up forcing water into the community’s heritage buildings.  ( see photo at right, photo Opinion250 staff)

At left, Ball diamonds and other sports facilities are under water, resulting in the cancellation of sports activities

The flood is expected to last between 4 to 6 more weeks says Lafleur “It could be the middle of August before we are back to normal” 

The Nechako is at 747 ½ cubic meters per second . In the flood of 1976, the river reached 748 cubic meters per second.

At right, working the sand bags today were Shelly Peters, Judith Derksen, Kyle Peters and Travis Murdoch, two grade 9 students entering grade 10 this fall also gave a helping hand.

At left, a flower bed has been turned into a flower "bath".   Below right, a backyard trampoline has become an island.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us