By Megan Chase, Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Westmeath)— There may not be water in their basement, but this hasn’t stopped those lucky few from banding together and helping their neighbours. One of these individuals is Cheryl Spotswood. She volunteers at the Westmeath Arena and nothing stops her from helping her community.
“We’re coping the best we can,” she said. “The flood takes on different meanings for different people. There are varying ways people are being affected and it gives way to different levels of frustration and stress. It can be lonely and scary.”
Where the area is washed out on Rapid Road near Vizena Trail, you can see the vehicles lining the streets. Slowly, boats and canoes begin replacing cars. While some larger vehicles are still able to slowly drive through the flooded area, most are not. This brought on the clever term, “canoe-über” for the current shared common experience which is bringing them together.
Earlier this week, she was winding down for the night and in the middle of checking some emails. She heard a knock and discovered a neighbour looking to borrow a truck to help a family who was without transport. The family was setting up to walk two and a half kilometres to their home, in the rain with their groceries.
Ms. Spotswood hopped out of bed without a second thought and drove to pickup the family, delivering them safely home. “Resilience is based on personal experiences,” explains Ms. Spotswood. “We need to look at the human cost of this flood and be there for one another, especially afterwards.”
Clem Trail is buzzing with activity even during the flood. Ms. Spotswood explains the residents take responsibility for the road out there because they believe it’s important and being a private road, is not maintained by the Township of Whitewater Region. She goes on to explain they are called The Clem Trail Association and how they come together for many reasons, like fixing culverts or snowploughing in the winter months.
While standing at Spotswoods Landing in Westmeath, Ms. Spotswood motioned to the river and explained, “it’s been eerily quiet since everyone left. Before you could hear the pumps, but slowly people couldn’t do it anymore.” She remembers the big flood of 1959 at the Landing and says the river has developed quite heavily since then. She explains the Landing is a historically narrow spot on the river and the road leading in has been built up for this reason.
“Right now the focus is on helping those who still are unable to get out or are trapped and on the aftermath,” said Ms. Spotswood. An assortment of debris has been seen coming down the Ottawa River, including fridges, propane tanks and docks.
