Communities rally together to help flood victims

The severe flooding has brought out the best in many people who are helping those stranded.

The water from the Liard River breached the dikes in Lower Post, B.C. Maggie Stone, 75, had to be removed from her home and sent to Watson Lake, Yukon.

"Well the cops come down to my house and they told my two grandsons and me they were going to send us up here," she said.

She and her grandsons have joined a couple thousand people in the Yukon highway town. Seven homes flooded in Lower Post, and another 10 or so flooded in Upper Liard, Yukon.

Aisha Montgomery, with the emergency crew, said those affected have been very patient.

"The social worker says 'You know I haven't been yelled at once.' She says it's amazing," said Montgomery.

Tourists are also making the best of the delays, and some have been taking it as an opportunity to make new friends.

Over the weekend, Watson Lake high school students held an evening of dinner and entertainment for the travellers.

"They had a chili night and they played movies in the gym, that sort of thing," said Montgomery.

"It was pretty cool and we had travellers coming by afterwards saying that was so great. They were taking donations but those just short on cash could just have a free meal. It was a really neat thing."

Could be days before flood victims can go home

Nahanni Butte, N.W.T., evacuees have been trying to stay busy in Fort Simpson, N.W.T.

Theyre staying at an emergency shelter at the recreation centre after their homes were voluntarily evacuated Saturday because of the flood risk. Many only had a couple of hours to pack up before getting a flight to Fort Simpson.

'This is a really good example of northern resilience.' Kevin Bresinski, N.W.T. director of Public Safety

Dozens of sleeping bags cover cots lined along the walls of the recreation centre, and the rain keeps pouring down outside.

The close to 30 people inside play cards to pass the time, as none of them know what damage the rising flood waters did to their homes.

Trevor Kjelesli, the lead hand at the Fort Simpson Recreation Centre, said theyre all trying to make the best of it.

"It's pouring outside and our gym is full of sleeping attire but we're trying to keep the kids as busy as possible."

The community of Fort Simpson has also pulled together to help. Volunteers are piling in to cook meals, while community members sit and visit.

And after returning from fighting a forest fire, the fire department donated all ofits leftover food.

Nahanni Butte residents might have to wait a few more days until they can return home. The N.W.T. Department of Municipal and Community Affairs says it could be days before the water level recedes.

On Sunday, government officials were on the ground to survey the damage and bring satellite phones to the 15 people who stayed behind.

"This is a really good example of northern resilience, where partners banded together to ensure that the appropriate planning provisions were put in place to respond to what appeared to be a potentially very disastrous event," said Kevin Bresinski, the Director of Public Safety for the N.W.T.