STEPHENVILLE, N.L. — Hilda Jesso said, at 70 years of age, she’s too old to worry about the flooding that took place at her home in Cold Brook on the weekend.
“At first I felt like sitting down and crying, but luckily I have two sons that came by to help,” she said.
The flooding started after heavy rain on Friday night, with the water rising into the early hours of Saturday after ice jammed the regular flow of the brook jumped the banks of the brook.
Four homes and one business were affected by the flooding in the community.
Jesso said more than 30 years ago they had the same type of flooding and most times there are heavy rains they get water running under their home, which doesn’t have a basement.
However, this time, like more than three decades ago, the water got into their porch, which is a little lower than the main part of the home.
There was lots of slush and ice in their outbuilding as well, which she said her boys came and cleaned out for her and husband Robert Jesso, who is now 75 years old.
“There’s no sense in getting upset, as it doesn’t do any good. Let’s hope after the work their doing, she (the brook) flows well,” she said.
Jesso was appreciative that John Finn, MHA for Stephenville Port au Port, had dropped by on the weekend and followed up with a call on Tuesday.
Finn said the flooding was something that wasn’t expected and was tough to anticipate and that if those affected need help, then he’s willing to work with them.
The rerouting of the brook back to its original course is being paid for by the province and coordinated through the Town of Stephenville.
The community of Cold Brook falls within the Town of Stephenville’s planning boundary.
