The Peace River is finally backing off near Arcadia after cresting at 16.5 feet, but not before a rescue effort that locals won’t soon forget. As floodwater rose, cattle workers found animals clustered around a tree with the water nearing their heads. A crew led by Pete Brewer responded with John boats one night and horses the next, roping and guiding livestock to higher ground. In the end, 16 cows, a donkey and four goats were brought to safety. “If we hadn’t got them that night, they would have drowned,” Brewer said.
The river was expected to fall out of the major flood category on Nov. 7, though officials caution that floodwater will take days to recede completely. Low-lying areas along the Peace should stay vigilant through the weekend. Neighbor Bobby Fussell watched the water rise and pointed to a longer-term concern: ditches and rapid runoff from ranch and prairie land, which he says is making floods worse. “Water’s running off the ground too fast,” he said.
For ranchers and rural families around Arcadia, this week was a reminder of how quickly the river can turn and how much depends on neighbors showing up for each other. Have you noticed changes in flooding or drainage where you live? Let us know in the comments or call in during the show.
