Calgary declares state of local emergency as part of flood preparations
With heavy rains expected and flooding possible, a state of local emergency has been declared in Calgary and will be in place for 14 days, Mayor Jyoti Gondek announced Monday.
"I realize that may cause some fear, some anxiety for Calgarians, especially those who went through this in 2013," she said.
"I can tell you that you are in good hands."
The order can be rescinded or renewed, "as needed," said Gondek, and is being done "out of extreme caution."
Several pathways along the Bow and Elbow rivers have been closed, water pumps have been positioned and the Glenmore Reservoir has been lowered in anticipation of significant rainfall in Calgary.
The city has created an online map tool which shows areas of Calgary most impacted by flooding.
Declaring a state of local emergency was done for several reasons, said Gondek.
"First and foremost, it allows Calgary Police Service and Calgary Fire Department, as needed, to go door-to-door to advise people that they may be under an evauation order. No such order has been called yet, but if we need to evacuate people, this allows police and fire to advise people on properties that may be impacted."
The City of Calgary has created an online map showing areas being impacted by flooding. (Courtesy City of Calgary)
It also allows members of the city's water services team to access properties as needed to protect critical infrastructure, and offers "purchasing flexibility" to the city.
Gondek said current levels in the Bow River and Elbow River are "significantly lower" than they were during the 2013 flood event.
Some businesses are being proactive all the same, including the River Cafe in Prince's Island Park, which has been closed in case of flooding in the coming days, with staff removing perishable food on Monday afternoon, along with an extensive wine collection.
“After two damaging floods, we can’t just wait and see what happens, ” says owner Sal Howell. “We have friends in the community who will help store our food and wine until the river has receded.”
Though rainfall forecasts vary, CTV News Meteorologist Kevin Stanfield says between 80 and 100 millimetres of rain is set to fall by early Wednesday, while some areas could see upward of 150 mm.
Since the 2013 flood, more than $150 million has been invested in mitigation projects, which has reduced flood risk by 55 per cent, according to city officials.
Some of those projects include:
- Construction of new, permanent flood barriers along Heritage Drive, along Eau Claire beside downtown, in Inglewood and the Calgary Zoo;
- New, 2.5-metre high steel gates at the Glenmore Dam, which doubled its water storage capacity so it can hold back more water and release it at a slower rate on the Elbow River;
- Lift station construction, drainage improvements and stormwater trunk upgrades in various established neighbourhoods to reduce the risk of localized flooding from intense rainfalls;
- Resilience upgrades to multiple stormwater outfalls to prevent back-flooding into affected communities, and;
- Bridge upgrades to maintain access and prevent damage during high flow events.
Calgary's downtown flood barrier is also complete and runs from the Peace Bridge to the Reconciliation Bridge and construction has started on the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir west of the city.
The protection put in place in the last nine years reduces Calgary's flood risk by about 55 per cent, according to the city.
Experts are still recommending people should remove valuable items and documents from basements if you're located near flood-prone areas, and test sump pumps to make sure they're working properly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot multiple times in attempted assassination
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being wounded in a shooting after a political event Wednesday afternoon, according to his Facebook profile.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge hit a bridge in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a small island, officials said.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION Your attention span is shrinking, studies say. Here's how to stay focused: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.