Turner Valley Bridges Washed Out

When I moved to Turner Valley in 2000 I found it to be a beautiful  community but I did not want to live there. Why? It is surrounded on every side by rivers and these rivers have been known to flood. I had small children then. The boys were  5 and 2 and I had a 6 month old baby girl. The thought of being cut off from the world in a natural disaster was one of the primary reasons I chose to make my home in Black Diamond. Even as they grew older I just thought of it as prudent. I am a single mother and one can never be too safe.

This week we have seen evidence of this. A creek runs through Millarville and that creek crosses under Highway 22. This week it was no small creek. It was a raging torrent of angry water that was impassible. The bridge was not safe. There are two other accesses to Turner Valley. One that goes south where a large bridge passes by the old gas plant, and the other is on Highway 22 going to Black Diamond. The Sheep River is the waterway flowing under both of the bridges in both directions. This week the Sheep River was a km wide in most locations. Therefore Turner Valley was cut off from the world, and then it got even worse because the bridges washed out.

The only way out is by helicopter and some are getting out that way. Thursday morning as an H2S leak was announced I am sure there were many in Turner Valley beginning to panic. Toxic gases that kill added to the fact that you are stranded can’t be comforting. Many of us in the community have felt that plant needs to be cleaned up for years. It was the first natural gas plant in Alberta and it should be a provincial landmark. It actually provided gasoline to the tanks in World War II so maybe a little attention due to the flood will end in a good thing there.

It could be week before people in Turner Valley have access to the rest of the world again. The bridges are gone and the damage around the river is unbelievable. There is the rocks and the trees and the grass but then there are the homes, the roads, the businesses. Millions and millions of dollars to rebuild from the destruction.

Is there an answer for the next time? Not likely. These are mountain rivers. Powerful and mighty they make their own course and determine their own paths. We can’t brick up the sides like they do in the east. There is no amount of structure or concrete that will change their mind. The concrete slabs and the culverts are all on the banks now as evidence of our futile tries from the past. If we want to live here these are the challenges we will face. It is that simple.

Always Loyal2U,

Kerry George