Summer 2013

Summer 2013 has been one to remember, and it is only half over! Near the end of June, several of our neighbouring communities were the victims of the worst flooding that we have on record. High River received major damage to residential properties and business, Calgary received major flooding that almost cancelled the Calgary Stampede, and our friends at Hidden Valley Resort have seen the devastation first hand due to the flooding. The Town of Vulcan stood up to the plate and offered refuge to flood victims. We have emergency centres, and many local residents opened up their homes and took in those people who had no place to go. A big hats off to the businesses and residents of Vulcan! So, now as those flood victims, many who still cannot go home yet, Vulcan is seeing the after effects of the flood. Our local rental market is packed. We have waiting lists for people looking for a place to stay here. Actually, we were almost full before the floods. The wind mill farm is also in the process of going up so there are many people looking for places to rent. Our residential real estate market has been very busy. Buyers are looking for places under the $150,000 or $170,000 marks. Many of these folks are from Hidden Valley Resort. I am guessing that we will see in increase in activity from people who live/lived in High River. Right now, much of their equity/investment is under water. However, once things are sorted out with insurance companies, as well as assistance from provincial and federal governments, I would expect to see several of those people looking to Vulcan as a new place to call home too. This has been an unprecented event. No one knows for sure what the outcome will be until we actually see it. It is horrible for those victims of the flood. Many have lost everything. We should be thankful that more lives were not lost though. One is too many, but it could have been much worse.