Watching and waiting for Manitoba flood waters

by Keven Drews

Military personnel and volunteers sandbag Eva Korfman’s home (CBC Photo)

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — At least one local Lutheran family is counting its blessings after government officials breached a dike early Saturday to avert a larger crisis.

Eva Korfman, a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, said water from the breached dike at the Assiniboine River’s Hoop and Holler Bend has now reached her family’s land but has not yet come close to her home.

“It’s more promising than we anticipated,” said Korfman, noting she feels divine help in the matter. “That’s totally God’s hand.”

Korfman anticipates the water to get even closer to the house but not enter it later this week.

The house is, after all, protected by an Aqua Dam, a sandbagged-braced, one-metre-tall, one-metre-wide, water-filled, sausage-like tube. It is also built on one of three small hills on the Korfmans’ 8.5-hectare parcel of land.

The property is located less than a kilometre from the breach.

Government officials hoped the planned breach would reduce pressure on the Assiniboine River and flood only 150 properties and 250 square kilometers of land compared to a much larger disaster that would have impacted 850 homes on 500 square kilometers of land.

They breached the dike Saturday morning.

Also living in the area are Redeemer members’ Simon Bueckert, his wife Sheila, and daughters Alicia and Kiersten.

The Canadian Lutheran was unable to reach them for comment Monday.

Korfman said she knows of Lutherans in Canada, the United States, Mexico and even Thailand who are praying for her, and she is definitely counting her blessings.

“There’s blessings going on that we don’t even know about,” she said. “You’ve got to count your blessings.”

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