A Red Deer couple who lost the majority of their backyard in a landslide last July is still waiting for provincial funding in order to stabilize their property near Waskasoo Creek.
Three landslides were reported in Red Deer on July 11 and 12, 2022 after excessive rainfall a month earlier which saturated the soil and caused some areas to drop.
Sandra De Clerck said she heard some noise at about 2 a.m. on July 11 during a big storm. It turned out to be trees breaking as a large section of their backyard broke away, sunk about 4.5 metres and slid down towards the treed escarpment.
The elaborate English perennial garden that she planted with her mother, and nurtured for 20 years was gone. Their large deck was also removed to be safe.
“If we don’t get the funding to fix this it’s going to happen again and our house is in jeopardy,” said Sandra who is worried about what will happen if a lot of rain falls again this summer.
If the ground becomes unstable within three metres of their house they won’t be allowed to live in their home.
“The best fix will be over $3 million. It’s a big fix.”
Related:
Flooded Red Deer homeowners still waiting for provincial relief
Last fall the city submitted an application to the province on behalf of about 300 local residents and property owners for provincial disaster relief.
Russ Watts, the city’s acting engineering services manager, said the province denied the application in February, but the city appealed the decision in March and is waiting for an answer.
He said the appeal was an opportunity to provide additional information and the city remains hopeful or else they wouldn’t have appealed the decision.
“We just have to trust the process at this point,” Watts said.
“If it’s successful the individual homeowners would work with the province on individual claims.”
Related:
Rainfall causes landslides in Red Deer
Excessive rain led to a lot of basements being flooded last summer.
Flood damage from sewer back-ups is covered by household insurance policies. But most private policies do not cover overland flooding — and it’s for these uninsured costs that the city is seeking provincial help for homeowners.
The De Clerck’s property had the most damage out of all the applicants.
Sandra said, in the beginning, everyone was pretty confident the province would provide the funding and everything would be fixed, but the process seemed to stall. The province’s first excuse was the UCP’s change in leadership and cabinet shuffle and then came the election.
Her husband Eric De Clerck said it’s been a long 10 months.
“We’ve been in limbo. You get up every morning, walk into the living room, look out there, and are reminded of the situation.” Eric said.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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