Grand Forks

Flood

May 19th 2006

The Kettle River is flowing exceedingly fast today. At Spragget Bridge you could see the water gushing past on its' way to the city centre.

At the city centre park, (at the end of 4th street looking south ) people were gathering to see the flooded park. The children's playground is almost under water, as is the area where in the summer time the Farmer's Market is held. The RV camp is here too, as is the carparking area. One car park area is already underwater.

The workers were there busy filling sand bags. Some had already been placed at an opening to the children's playground, while others were being placed round a building.

As I watched the river, a massive tree trunk floated downstream at a very quick pace and was quickly out of sight.

Why is the river flooding? We have not had much rain fall. BUT we are having very hot weather right now and it is melting the snow in the higher altitudes which are filling up the river.

Click on each image to make it bigger (It will open in a new window)

These views are all taken looking southward, towards the river Kettle, which can be seen in the background.

Afternoon 19th may 2006

This afternoon a woman (between ages 13 and 30, possibly 25 years old) fell into the Kettle river and luckily was rescued. She fell in round about the old mill and I believe was rescued somewhere near Spragget bridge.

May 20th 2006

Photos taken today of the River Kettle at the end of Almond Gardens Road East, Grand Forks:

May 21 2006

The river is still rising. Apparently it hasn't peaked yet. The last time there was flooding here I believe was in 1997. Today the children's playground was underwater as well as the surrounding area. The sandbags that were working the other day keeping the water off the play area is not working today. Also the area where the RV's park is now under water.

more flood pictures:

This is the Granby River before it meets with the Kettle. Some of the houses here are already flooded, and their sandbags are now not holding the water back.

May 26th 2006 ... one week after the initial flooding

If you compare these photos taken on May 26th with those above taken on May 19th you will see that the floods have receeded quite a bit. The children's play area is now clear of water (the sand bags are still in place) though the area to the west still has the trunks of trees under water. The public are still not allowed into this area. The river is still very high and is still flowing at a very fast rate.