Alberta 2013 Flood - Page 39

suburbia · #**761** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeweed

Need more humour right now:

Things that don't belong in Bow River. 1) Hippos. 2) Houses. 3) Rail cars full of diesel.

Unless your name is Jason Markusoff, you really should be providing a reference:
https://twitter.com/markusoff/status/350261505146621953

Quote:

Originally Posted by @Markusoff tweeted: (direct copy/paste)

Things that don't belong in Bow River. 1) Hippos. 2) Houses. 3) Rail cars full of diesel.

artvandelay · #**762** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 4:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

My bigger question is why did they only inspect it monday. With a developing situation like this and sinkholes popping up all over the city you'd think it would get continued inspections. Plus who decided it was a good idea to test it by transporting hazardous goods over the river? Stupid.

It looks like the riverbed below the bridge footing has eroded causing it to sink. It's pretty hard to inspect for that with the water still running high and fast.

O-tacular · #**763** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 4:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by artvandelay

It looks like the riverbed below the bridge footing has eroded causing it to sink. It's pretty hard to inspect for that with the water still running high and fast.

You'd think as a precaution then that they wouldn't run cars with flammable, toxic material in them over the unstable river bed.

entheosfog · #**764** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 4:59 PM**

For the record, I haven't heard much (if any) negative talk in person towards Alberta coming from Vancouver. I've read some on Facebook and other Internet parts but assholes come out in times like that. Even the morning of the Calgary flooding I lashed out at a FB 'friend' who felt he should get on his soapbox (on a photo I posted) about global warming, blah blah blah. Very bad taste.
But everyone I work with knows I'm from Calgary and has been asking about my family and friends that live in southern Alberta. Natural disasters happen and I like to think the country will bind together to show support and it's just too bad a few losers on the Internet make BCers and Vancouverites look like they don't care. Most people here sure do. Flooding is no stranger to these parts, especially the Fraser River, that's for sure.
The footage coming from Calgary has been hard to take in, seeing my old neighbourhood and stomping grounds under water, having a friend's basement level apartment completely under water and knowing I have a few family members in High River and near Medicine Hat.
But it's great to see the city recovering at such a rapid pace

Calgarian · #**765** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by artvandelay

It looks like the riverbed below the bridge footing has eroded causing it to sink. It's pretty hard to inspect for that with the water still running high and fast.

Yeah I doubt putting divers in would help either, the visibility in the water is probably pretty much 0.

artvandelay · #**766** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-tacular

You'd think as a precaution then that they wouldn't run cars with flammable, toxic material in them over the unstable river bed.

By that logic they shouldn't allow traffic on any bridge in the city right now, as there's no way to tell whether the foundations are unstable.

I really does make you wonder about the integrity of the other bridges in the city though, especially the ones that are as old as the CP bridge.

1ajs · #**767** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:10 PM**

witch bridge failed?

MichaelS · #**768** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

In time for what?

I'd like to know who inspected the bridge, or was CP's way of testing it to send a train over it?

With our luck it will be a train carrying bituman.

http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1986/11/26
If I paid more attention, I would probably find more references to my favourite comic strip that applied to the conversation on this forum, but this morning this one jumped out to me. Like Freeweed said, more humour

AB Born · #**769** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

witch bridge failed?

The shorter one.

AB Born · #**770** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:24 PM**

Deerfoot Trail currently:

Deerfoot traffic cam June 27, 2013 by JordanW.ca, on Flickr

artvandelay · #**771** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by artvandelay

By that logic they shouldn't allow traffic on any bridge in the city right now, as there's no way to tell whether the foundations are unstable.

I really does make you wonder about the integrity of the other bridges in the city though, especially the ones that are as old as the CP bridge.

Update: According to the city news conference, all newer bridges in the city have their footings set in the bedrock. The bridge in question, being so old, was only set 8 feet below the riverbed - hence the erosion issue.

Also, the Bonnybrook treatment plant has been evacuated so sewage is going directly into the Bow. So those of you on the north side of the city should kindly limit your toilet usage.

Nenshi appears to be fairly angry at CP right now.

suburbia · #**772** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:34 PM**

The Sun highlighting some inner city looting. Quoting occupant saying that want the mayor to proclaim not everyone is good. Hmmm ...

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/06/26...urns-and-urine

s211 · #**773** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:36 PM**

If that were in Vancouver, the mayor would claim the lack of cars as evidence that the city doesn't need the freeway anymore.

dmuzika · #**774** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

witch bridge failed?

The one in the background.

Here's a picture from Global, different angle.

Daveography · #**775** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:49 PM**

^ Jesus that looks bad.

Calgarian · #**776** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:51 PM**

wow!

mersar · #**777** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:58 PM**

Yep, its pretty bad.

They plan to pump the material from the one bridge to cars on the other bridge and then either crane them off individually, or tow them off by cabling them together and pulling from the land. But that won't be until tonight at the earliest.

Downside to the evacuation is that the sewage plant is evacuated, so they've been forced to just dump raw sewage into the river as the plant isn't fully restored so its too risky to operate without anyone there.

Calgarian · #**778** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 5:59 PM**

I thought they were dumping raw sewage already due to the flood.

mersar · #**779** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 6:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

I thought they were dumping raw sewage already due to the flood.

They had been, but they had at least resumed partial treatment as of last night.

freeweed · #**780** Posted **Jun 27, 2013, 6:04 PM**

Not to sound cold and heartless about looting when it does occur, but with numbers like this - I think crime is actually DOWN in the city right now:

Quote:

Police Chief Rick Hanson said officers will be relentless in investigating the case, one of 17 reported break-ins/lootings in nearly two dozen communities where some 100,000 residents were told to evacuate.

17 break ins? That's probably a quiet Sunday at any other time.

I wonder if this woman's story would be major news in the Sun if it happened while she was away on vacation - which is how the majority of us discover these messes. But the outrage just doesn't seem as strong then. Can't blame Nenshi's upbeat attitude if it happens in April, I guess.

I also think the word "looting" is being thrown around just a tad too loosely at the moment.