Flood cleanup efforts continue, Lourdes grotto to reopen on Tuesday

October 23, 2012: The recent flooding of the Gave River left a “landscape of desolation” for cleanup workers as they continue to remove mud and debris from the Lourdes shrine on Oct. 21.

The Grotto of Massabielle, where the Blessed Mother appeared 18 times to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, was flooded with close to four feet of water and eight inches of mud during the Oct. 20 inundation. The grotto is set to reopen Oct. 23.

The pools where the sick visit in hopes of miraculous healing will remain closed indefinitely, Bishop Nicolas Brouwet of Tarbes and Lourdes said Oct. 21.
Cleanup crews made up of local firefighters and municipal workers began the task of removing the thick mud and debris with tractors, shovels and fire hoses from the low-lying areas of the sanctuary Sunday afternoon.