Solemn mood hangs over Benoit's Cove in flooding aftermath
Residents deal with property damage after a wild weekend of weather
It's been a heartbreaking weekend for Wally and Yvonne Jesso of Benoit's Cove. The elderly couple's home was submerged in water when a nearby brook overflowed during Saturday's heavy rainstorm.
Sunday morning the couple, along with family and friends, went back to the property to sift through the damage. Gerald Parsons was there to help his family deal with the aftermath.
"We're just trying to clean a bit of mess up this morning to see what we've got to put up with there and see what she can save and can't save," Parsons told CBC.
Gerald Parsons speaks for the elderly couple, Wally and Yvonne Jesso, who lives there <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nltraffic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nltraffic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlwx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nlwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/FAsUM9SiPN">pic.twitter.com/FAsUM9SiPN</a>
—@garyakmoore
Although the house is still standing, the damage inside the home is devastating for the family.
An emotional Jesso family put on a brave face as they sorted through the mess of ruined furniture and waterlogged floors.
This is the damage the Jesso’s are facing today inside the home <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nltraffic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nltraffic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlwx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nlwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/CwelG5VxBs">pic.twitter.com/CwelG5VxBs</a>
—@garyakmoore
Parsons said the Jessos were coping "as good as can be for the mess they've got to put up with" on Sunday.
It wasn't just the house that was affected by the flooding. The couple had vehicles completely submerged, and water levels were to the roof of the couple's shed.
There were visible signs of damage to the vehicles, but it was too soon to tell if they would start again.
This group of people are digging up loose gravel to bring back to Benoit’s Cove to help patch up driveway’s that’s been damaged <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nltraffic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nltraffic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlwx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nlwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/2MYpBh5E67">pic.twitter.com/2MYpBh5E67</a>
—@garyakmoore
As the Jessos were evaluating their home, neighbours in the community were also dealing with the aftermath of Saturday's storm.
People were out walking around town to assess the damage. One group of friends spent the morning digging up gravel on the side of the highway to truck it back to town, so they could patch up some of the washed-out driveways.
People in Benoit’s Cove say it’s a solemn mood here today as they deal with the aftermath of yesterday’s storm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcnl?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cbcnl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nltraffic?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nltraffic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nlwx?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nlwx</a> <a href="https://t.co/2zc12rBHtz">pic.twitter.com/2zc12rBHtz</a>
—@garyakmoore
It's too soon to know how much all the damage will tally up to cost, but residents will remember this weekend for a lifetime.