Strangers helping strangers battling the high waters once again of Lake Ontario in Bowmanville on Saturday, May 18, 2019.
Volunteers from St. John Ambulance in Northumberland and Durham Region along with Durham College Pre-Fire Service Students, were just a few of the organizations helping to fill and distribute sand bags along the shoreline of Lake Ontario.
Residents were in almost a jovial mood as they were filling sandbags.
A good supply of food was on hand to help with the mood. As pogo sticks were handed out, the smiles and laughs grew reminiscing of years gone past having them at the Canadian National Exhibition.
After the short break, homeowners and strangers were back at it filling sandbags that can hopefully protect just over 50 homes in the Cedar Crest Beach Road area of Bowmanville.
It’s in preparation for what could be if Lake Ontario starts to show her fury as the waves would once again batter homes along the shoreline.
Gordon Giffin who lives along the shoreline said this year is just about equal to the devastating effects of 2017.
Other than 2017, there has never been water so close to the home that has been in the family since the 1930’s.
Many years ago, the home has had approximately 100 feet of frontage before their land touched the water. But that is all gone now.
“We weren’t building close to the water at the time this house was built.”
A pump in the basement is on 24-hours a day constantly pumping water to keep the basement from flooding.
“We are worried if there is a power failure the pumps will stop working.”
Giffin has a gas generator back-up, but it would take several minutes to install, and that could be devastating to the basement.
Saturday was a calm day on Lake Ontario, but with the high water combined with wind, the waves and water will hit the second storey windows of his home as they have done in the past.
Sandbagging has been going on for at least four weekends, and all the residents along the lake are very grateful to everyone including members of St. John Ambulance and Durham College Pre-Fire Service Students who were helping on Saturday.
“There’s been flooding already and that’s why we keep having to fill sandbags and build walls at our houses.”
Last weekends storm combined with the wind and surge of the lake brought flooding to basements and yards of area homes.
“Now we know what we need to do for the next storm, which still might not be enough, but we still have to protect ourselves as best we can.”
Giffin believes the environment is partly the cause of the flooding but he also believes it’s combined with “human intervention.”
“The dam at Cornwall isn’t being empted because other places are being flooded and our beach erosion is a result of St. Mary’s pier which has starved our beach of the regular flow of silt and sand into our area.”
Having record high levels of water in two years, Giffin said the Province has to get involved to figure out a solution and protect the properties along the shoreline.
Cedar Crest Beach Road resident, David Witzke says in 2017 the community was unprepared for what was happening along the shoreline.
“This year, through practise we’ve been much, much more prepared.”
Peter Kooger has only lived along the shoreline for approximately one year, but in the last month he’s got to know his neighbours.
“I’m just doing what I can to help out.”
“In the past month I’ve met all the neighbours and there is a really good, tight bond.”
With a marsh on one side, and Lake Ontario on the other, if residents get flooding from both sides, “we are pooched.”
“We don’t have enough sand bags to deal with a flood from both sides. The fear is people losing their homes and have to vacate.”
“The anxiety does peak from time to time, but as we all come together and talk about what’s going on. There is a sense of relief coming together as a community because they are all sharing the same anxiety.”
One common factor shared by all the residents is they are extremely grateful for the help they’ve been getting from organizations helping fill the sand bags.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
