after the storm.

Well, as I have discussed before, we are having flood issues up here, and Lake Manitoba, where we recently bought a little family cottage, has been hard hit. It is a unique lake- a combination of large and shallow, which spells trouble when it comes to wind as it generates large, destructive waves. The "first" wind storm struck in late May. All communities on the lake had a mandatory evacuation, and no one was allowed back in for several weeks as the area was being secured. Monday things had calmed down enough that it was finally our opportunity to see the damage to our property first hand.

Our cottage before (last summer):

Our cottage on Monday, showing results from the storm:



You will notice- our big wooden pier (and only protection): lost. Trees: uprooted. Grass and yard: gone. Our siding torn off. The front end of the cottage suspended in air, all supports ripped away, inside floor visible through the holes in the exterior wall. Debris riddles the lake, sharp objects protruding from the sand.

Our neighbor: cottage owners since the 1970s, and permanent residents for the past 20 years. A sweet couple in their late 70s- he still water skis every summer! He was reduced to tears when he talked about being driven out of his home. They do not anticipate the area will be habitable again this year- residents must remain in hotels or with family members.



2 doors down: S. and D. had sent out invitations for their July 9 wedding on the beach. Not looking too "happily ever after." They are now scrambling to find a new venue....

So many stories like this. The worst part: the water continues to rise and is not expected to crest until the END of July. We spent the day Monday moving out all of our belongings, toting them to the road in a canoe across the back of our flooded back yard while wearing chest waders. There are fish trapped in our back yard, swimming around, pushed here when the waves rose up! We fully expect what is left to fall like a house of cards in the next storm :( As far as we are concerned, it is game over. Our cottage has already been deemed unsafe to enter by engineers.


If you can help people in the region....Thank you :)