A family from Lonesand who has had their home ravaged by recent floodwaters plans on moving away from the region for good.

A lifelong resident of the RM of Stuartburn, Johnathon Meda views flooding along the Rat River as an almost annual event to be expected and prepared for. The recent flood, however, took a toll on him like none other.

“In our storage shed, all of our personal belongings got wet and most of them had to be thrown out," he details. "There were things that were irreplaceable that we lost in this flood, it is devastating.”

While he knew to expect high waters, never before this spring had Meda's property and possessions been so utterly destroyed. As the water levels slowly retreat, Meda and his young family are making plans to do the same.

“My wife, our kids, and I, we can’t keep doing this. We’ve decided that we are going to move out and find higher dryer land.”

t,” he states.

Now dealing with the soupy aftermath of their old life, Meda has made repeated attempts of getting compensation, but to no avail. “Apparently there is no overland flooding insurance coverage,” he says. That lack of support leaves the Meda’s starring at a bill worth thousands of dollars. Feeling, in many ways, that both his municipal government and insurance brokers alike have failed him, Meda has turned to the province for recompense.

“I just hope that the government can come up with a plan to help us,” he says. “Or maybe even buy us out so that we can get out of this flooded plain. I’ve been through multiple floods here and the stress of it is just getting to be too much.”

The Medas had stayed at a relative’s house in Blumenort for the worst throes of the flood but have already been living back at home for over a week. Until the government throws them a lifeline, Meda says he and his wife will spend their free time drowning in the overwhelming cleanup and restorative maintenance necessary to get their household back in order.