Ottawa-Gatineau residents see devastation as flood water recedes, focus on work ahead

As the flood waters in the Ottawa and Gatineau area recede, families are getting their first glimpses of the damage to their properties and what it will take to fix.

Genevive Landrysaid Tuesday that a few of her neighbours on Leo Lane in Cumberland have come to assess the situation after being told to leave. She shared her experience in a video posted on social media.

She was shocked and heartbroken, she said, despite having seen a video taken by her husband, Christopher Blenkiron.

"What's home and familiar being devastated, being demolished. Something that's unrecognizablewet, dirty, humid, broken,"Landrysaid.

• Check out more of CBC Ottawa's flood coverage

In her video, Landry wadesthrough about half a metreof water on her main floor. Firewood, workout equipment and a dog bowl can be seen floating in the murky water.

The crawlspacefilled with water after they were told to leave their home. After days of sandbagging to fightback the rising Ottawa River, Blenkironsaid he was exhausted anddisappointed when he found out the house had been lost.

LandryandBlenkironbought the bungalow, which features aloft, in 2013. They both described gutting the house andrebuilding everything from thekitchen to the washrooms and laundry room.

"This was our dream house on the water,"Blenkironsaid.

'We're at the mercy of the river'

A house that was a labour of love now needs to be stripped apart and rebuilt, Blenkiron said. He'll miss the custom-built kitchen he spent "too much" on, where his family would gather.

"Reliving different memories in different areas, knowing it's just never going to be thesameagain, it's difficult," he said.

Several possessions that won't be covered by insurance have been lost to the floodincluding their lawnmower,snowmobiles and other sports equipment,Landrysaid.

"We're at the mercy of the river, really," she said. "[However] longis it going to take for the river to recede is going to be dictating how fast we can start the demolition and drying the house."

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"Everything's filled with this brown, foul-smelling water. Even when the water recedes, not only is mould going to be an issue, we're probably dealing with some of the neighbour's septic stuff," Blenkironsaid.

"It's going to be just a disaster. There's going to be a bio-hazard element to it."

He's been washing his hands constantly and trying to avoid touching his eyes as he sorts through what can be saved. They'llhave to hire specialized contractors who can handle treating water-damaged material, he said.

He estimates the damage at upward of $300,000,considering the damaged sports equipment and the tools he used in his construction work.

The couple saidthey hope promises of disaster assistance funding will come through, and they're grateful for all the help they've received from volunteers.