Swift Current cleans up from flash flood

Swift Current residents are cleaning up after the city was hit with over two inches of rain in less than an hour on Saturday.

Photos and videos started to pop up on social media showing  vehicles plowing through water up to their bumpers.

The RCMP say some residents reported flooded basements, and the city official says the movie theatre got some minor flooding but was able to re-open later in the evening.

Crazy rainy day in Speedy Creek! #skstorm pic.twitter.com/WDoanlXFtk

— Lisa Dyck (@PittieLuver) July 17, 2016

“You know its bad when your editor calls you ‘we need all hands on deck,” said Candace Woodside, reporter for the Southwest Booster who was at home enjoying her holidays when she got the call.

She waded through knee high water to cover the storm for the local news paper. In some areas, Woodside said the water was even deeper. “Some of the vehicles from the Cypress Hills Health Regions were almost submerged. Those were SUVs,” she recalled.

Same vehicles. 18 hours later, bottom pic taken this morning. #skstorm flash flood in Swift Current pic.twitter.com/mSZ4Hikkk3

— Candace (@c_woodside) July 17, 2016

The rain came down so fast it quickly overwhelmed the city’s storm water system, pushing the water into the streets and turned empty dumpsters into floating barges.

“There was a … dumpster that floated down North Railway Street. And I actually saw a number of photos from residents of different dumpsters floating around the city.”

This is a dumpster floating down N Railway St. @City_SC personnel on site blocking street. #skstorm pic.twitter.com/yDpSR7ovuL

— Candace (@c_woodside) July 16, 2016

@weathernetwork quick and hard thunderstorm in Swift Current, Sk. #skstorm pic.twitter.com/INCLajB7Dn

— Junior (@junior61976) July 16, 2016

Radiator beepers going off everywhere swift current #skstorm pic.twitter.com/CNBP1IUMhy

— Parker Houghtaling (@CrabbyParker) July 16, 2016

Looks like Swift Current is in the heart of the #skstorm at the moment. @ChristyCBC @c_woodside @CTVKahla pic.twitter.com/6IlUtLn3AT

— Tom Cooledge (@skunk_tom) July 16, 2016

Woodside said by Sunday morning the water had drained away, but streets were still littered with debris.