Flood Water Warriors.

Submitted by: Courtney MacFawn

I live in Maugerville, NB, Canada, and this small community runs along the mighty Saint John River. On April 25th, 2008, the Saint John burst its banks and began flooding the Fredericton, Maugerville and Oromocto Areas. The EMO had warned us that the water would possibly exceed levels in 1973, which was one of the worst floods in history for Fredericton. We thought nothing of it, as we have been through so many floods that we got used to it.
But, on May 1st, the water began to rise, faster and faster. My father called the flood command post. Our power had been shut off for a couple days, and it was getting cold because of the water in the basement. We waited for hours, and it was a very emotional few hours, until finally, we saw a boat on the water in the distance headed towards our house, then a CFB Gagetown truck on the road, which was covered in a meter of water. The Upper Kingsclear Fire Department saved my father, mother, dog Rosie, and myself from the rapidly rising waters. I can’t thank them enough for what they did to our family. I was later interviewed by CTV news, Global news and CBC news, but in the back of my mind I couldn’t stop thinking that these men and women risked their lives to save ours. I have decided to become a volunteer firefighter and return the favour. Thank you UKFD.