Cleanup underway after flooding in Fort McMurray

Flood cleanup underway in Fort McMurray After a severe storm Sunday, Fort McMurray is dealing yet again with misfortune.

First it was fire, and now too much water.

A long and severe thunderstorm Sunday caused yet more adversity for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, as they had to activate the Emergency Operations Centre for the second time in three months to now overcome the flooding that Fort McMurray has been left with.

About 85 millimeters of rain came down Sunday in the span of just two hours, and Environment Canada warned the region they could see as many as 10 millimeters Monday.

Roads, businesses, and homes – especially their basements – are soaked.

“The people I’m renting from, she woke up and came and got me and was like ‘April’, and as soon as I opened my eyes I was like, ‘oh no’ … it was water everywhere,” April King said.

Restoration companies are already extremely busy -- one of them already dealing with about 400 calls and 20 claims because of flooding of basements.

But in some instances, beginning the cleaning process resulted in futile attempts because of the constant excess of water.

“We couldn’t mop up or anything because it was flowing in through the doors,” said Matt Voigt, owner of the local Harley Davidson dealership.

Large garbage bins have been paced in Ross Haven at the intersection of Thicket Drive and Robin Crescent where residents are encouraged to get rid of soaked large items. The bins will remain in the area until August 8.

“With many residents away for the long weekend, we encourage residents who live in an area that experienced localized flooding to connect in the next week with their neighbours to see if they can help them out” said Chris Graham, Deputy Director of Emergency Management. “It’s important that our community continues to be resilient and work together following yesterday’s rainfall.”

Fort McMurray residents have been through a difficult summer after dealing with the most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history in the May wildfires, but the community is rallying around together.

“First the fire, now this,” said Rob Roy, who works at Proserve Cleaning and Restoration Services. “But it's a strong community. We're all pulling together and doing what we need to do.”

With files from Breanna Karstens-Smith