Earth Watch Report - Flooding
| 25.06.2013 | Flash Flood | Canada | Province of Alberta, [Cypress County, Canmore, Siksika First Nation and Calgary region] |  |  |
Flash Flood in Canada on Thursday, 20 June, 2013 at 04:51 (04:51 AM) UTC.
Back| Updated: | Saturday, 22 June, 2013 at 04:32 UTC |
| Description | |
| At least three people have been killed and more than a 100,000 forced to flee their homes as floods triggered by torrential rain hit western Canada. Officials have ordered the evacuation of the centre of Calgary, Alberta, after both rivers that flow through it, the Bow and Elbow, overflowed. The floods have washed away roads and bridges, cut-off electricity and submerged hundreds of homes. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured flood-damaged areas on Friday. He has promised federal assistance for those affected. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt Patricia Neely confirmed that three people were dead and two bodies had been recovered. She said the bodies recovered are of two men found in the Highwood River near High River, about 40 miles (64km) south of Calgary, on Thursday. "This is incredible," said Mr Harper, a Calgary resident. "I don't think any of us have seen anything like this before. The magnitude is just extraordinary." Alberta Premier Alison Redford warned residents should be prepared for more flooding downstream. Communities further south were under total evacuation orders. Roughly half the homes in High River were flooded. While an estimated 230,000 people live and work in central Calgary, officials believed there would be few people to evacuate because many did not come to work on Friday. Some 25 neighbourhoods in Calgary, a city of one million, had already been evacuated. An estimated 75,000 residents have been ordered out of their homes. The floods come after a rainy week in Alberta, capped by 4in (10cm) of downpour on Thursday. Military helicopters rescued about 30 people off rooftops in the Calgary area. At least 350 soldiers are being dispatched to the flood zone, according to the defence minister's office. The mountain resorts of Banff and Canmore were left isolated after the Trans-Canada Highway was closed. | |
Flash Flood in Canada on Thursday, 20 June, 2013 at 04:51 (04:51 AM) UTC.
Back| Updated: | Sunday, 23 June, 2013 at 04:26 UTC |
| Description | |
| Alberta's
largest city was swamped Friday by floodwaters that submerged much of
the lower bowl of the Saddledome hockey arena, displaced tens of
thousands of people and forced the evacuation of the downtown core.
Mounties confirmed that two bodies were recovered from the Highwood
River near High River, Alta., and that another body has been spotted in
the river but hasn't yet been recovered. None have been identified. A
woman who was reported missing after she was swept away with her camper
into the Highwood River near Longview remains unaccounted for, while it
wasn't clear whether a man who was seen falling out of a canoe was able
to climb back in. "Get away from the river now!" a police officer in a
helicopter bellowed to residents in the low-lying Calgary neighbourhood
of Sunnyside as they surveyed torrents of water that invaded their homes
and sent everything from garbage cans to cars floating away.
Communities throughout southern Alberta continued to fight a watery
onslaught that began with torrential rains Wednesday night. From Canmore and Banff in the mountain parks through to Calgary and points east, overflowing rivers continued to wash out roads and bridges, inundate homes and turn streets into dirt-brown tributaries thick with smashed trees and furniture. About 250 mm of rain had fallen in the flood zone, the Bow River basin, and another 50 mm was expected Friday and 20 mm more on Saturday. Prime Minister Stephen Harper flew in from Ottawa to tour the hardest-hit areas with Premier Alison Redford. "I've seen a little bit of flooding in Calgary before," he said. "I don't think any of us have seen anything like this." Flanked by Redford and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, he said he knows residents are going through a "very difficult time." "If we just encourage everybody to stay optimistic, stay patient, we'll get through this." He and Redford said there will be funding available under provincial and federal disaster assistance programs under the usual formulas for such incidents. For now, Harper said it appears the flooding has peaked and stabilized, but he added it isn't over. "I know we're all very concerned that if it gets much more than this it could have real impact on infrastructure and other services longer term." Calgary was dealing with a double whammy of overflowing water from two rivers that run through the city and converge downtown. An estimated 75,000 residents in 25 neighbourhoods along the rivers had been ordered out of their homes and, early Friday afternoon, that order was extended to the entire downtown. With evacuations from surrounding communities added in, the total number reached 100,000. City officials confirmed water had swamped the interior of the Saddledome, home to the NHL's Calgary Flames. "We have reports that - yes - it is up to the 10th row in the Saddledome and ... I think that really paints a very clear picture of what kinds of volumes of water we are dealing with," said Trevor Daroux, the city's deputy police chief. Water turned the nearby Stampede grounds into a muddy lake, lapping at the roofs of the chuckwagon barns. Nenshi said the city still hopes to be ready for the world-famous Calgary Stampede, which begins in two weeks. In communities along the rivers, residents were left to wander and wade through streets waist-deep in water. Mission resident Patty Thille, who lived in Halifax when Hurricane Juan hit in 2003, said her home is dry - astonishing, as it is only 100 metres from the Elbow river - but she has seen some amazing scenes. | |
Flash Flood in Canada on Thursday, 20 June, 2013 at 04:51 (04:51 AM) UTC.
Back| Updated: | Monday, 24 June, 2013 at 11:53 UTC |
| Description | |
| As
record flood waters receded in parts of southern Alberta, Canada,
residents in another section of the province braced for the wrath the
raging waters would bring. Some 65,000 residents got the all-clear to
return home in Calgary, although the situation was far from settled in
the inundated city. "We are certainly still in a state of emergency, and
as always our number one priority is people's safety," Mayor Naheed
Nenshi said at a news conference carried Sunday by CNN affiliate CTV.
"Stay away from the rivers ... the riverbank could wash away from under
you in an instant ... it may look safe, it is not safe." While 90% of
the city's hard-hit downtown area is expected to be open by Tuesday,
some pockets of the city center may take weeks to return to normal, he
said. "The city of Calgary took a pretty hard hit, but we're a resilient
city," said Bruce Burrell, director of the Calgary Emergency Management
Agency. "We want to recover as quickly as possible, we want to get
people into their homes and businesses as quickly as possible, we want
to restore the city as quickly as possible." While conditions were improving in Calgary, the city of Medicine Hat cast a wary eye on the South Saskatchewan River, which authorities predicted would reach its peak Monday morning and flood at record levels. City Hall was lined with sandbags. Officials had told residents they should plan for the Trans-Canada Highway bridge to close Sunday night, but it remained open, allowing critical public access between the northern and southern sections of the city. Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated in Medicine Hat, and almost everyone has complied with evacuation orders, said the city's mayor, Norm Boucher. City spokeswoman Brandy Calvert said officials expect the flood to eclipse one that took place in 1995, the city's biggest on record. So far, water treatment and power plants in Medicine Hat are protected. The drinking water is safe. "We don't want to anticipate the worst, but we're going to be prepared for the worst," Alberta Premier Alison Redford said. "We know that, from what we've seen everywhere else, that this is more exceptional than we've ever seen in Alberta before, so we're presuming that that's probably the circumstance that we're looking at (in Medicine Hat) as well." The extensive flooding that has deluged towns and threatened southern Alberta communities has killed at least three people, officials said. The victims were all found in the Highwood River, about 40 miles south of Calgary. | |
Flash Flood in Canada on Thursday, 20 June, 2013 at 04:51 (04:51 AM) UTC.
Back| Updated: | Monday, 24 June, 2013 at 11:55 UTC |
| Description | |
| As
the truck rattles to a stop, Siksika Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier looks
out over the flooded community of Chicago Bridge where houses sit amid
floodwater like islands. Severe flooding has forced around 1,000 Siksika
people from their homes on the Alberta reserve, a large portion of
which hugs a stretch of the Bow River about 100 kilometres east of
Calgary. The disaster has been unfolding there since Friday, when the
river poured over its banks and covered some areas with over a metre of
floodwater. "How are we going to recover from all of this is what went
through my thoughts," Chief Rabbit Carrier told CBC News on Sunday.
"There’s a sense of hopelessness‌ as a leader you have to overcome
that and put emotions aside and start working toward the recovery."
Chief Rabbit Carrier said the community is still in a state of
emergency. The reserve’s recreation centre has been turned into a
shelter where a list of items - baby formula, diapers, towels, blankets
and non-perishable food - are in high demand. The phone in the
centre’s main office rings constantly. "We've been very fortunate that we have not lost anybody," Chief Rabbit Carrier said. In the lobby, a group of volunteers hoping to rescue animals trapped in the flood gets organized. They’ve already saved several animals, but plenty of barn animals and pets alike have perished. "If it has a pulse, we’ll save it," one volunteer said. Sally Fox, who has lived on the Siksika reserve for her entire life, refused to go to the emergency shelter, opting instead to sit at a makeshift campsite on the hill overlooking her flooded blue house. In Little Washington, there’s almost a kilometre-wide swath of flowing water still covering the community. Residents say it could be weeks before the community is dry. Even then, most of the 45 houses here likely won’t be saved. The four Siksika communities - a popular golf resort on the reserve was also destroyed - hit hardest all sit on low-lying land, nestled beneath foothills. Little Washington residents checking on their homes said there has been some flooding in the past, but it’s never been more than a little water in the basement - not even during the major floods of 2005. Today the water is still moving quickly, gushing over a cracked Little Washington road on its way toward Medicine Hat. Chief Rabbit Carrier says he hopes his community can get into "recovery mode" in the next 24 hours. But he said he hopes when the water subsides, people don’t forget about Siksika. | |
Flash Flood in Canada on Thursday, 20 June, 2013 at 04:51 (04:51 AM) UTC.
Back| Updated: | Tuesday, 25 June, 2013 at 03:27 UTC |
| Description | |
| With Alberta's flood waters receding and the biggest cleanup in provincial history underway, the enormity of the economic damage is becoming apparent. Initial estimates from BMO Capital Markets insurance analyst Tom MacKinnon suggest total damages to homes, businesses, vehicles and other private property are likely to run between $3 billion and $5 billion. That's roughly 20 to 30 times the amount of damage caused by southern Alberta's last major flood, in 2005. Insured losses are expected to equal about 75 per cent of the final tally, or roughly $2.25 billion to $3.75 billion, MacKinnon said in a report issued Monday. Meanwhile BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic told the National Post the flood that left downtown Calgary underwater for days could shave 0.1 per cent or $2 billion off Canada's economic growth in June. Forgone tourist dollars could inflate that total, he warns. The Calgary Stampede, which injects well over $300 million into the city's economy, is set to start in just 10 days. | |
Alberta gives $1 billion for flood relief
Two
men in a boat look at a car standing in the flooded river Danube in
Deggendorf, Germany Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/dpa,Marius Becker)
The Canadian Press
Published Monday, June 24, 2013 2:40PM EDT
Published Monday, June 24, 2013 2:40PM EDT
CALGARY -- The Alberta government is approving $1 billion to kick start the first phase of flood recovery in the province.
Premier Alison Redford says the money will be used to support people who have been evacuated, as well as to run relief centres and to start rebuilding infrastructure.
The government says it will provide pre-loaded debit cards to displaced residents to help with their immediate housing needs and day-to-day purchases.
Those who qualify will receive $1,250 per adult and $500 per child.
Redford says the unforeseen expense means Alberta won't meet its plans to balance the budget in the coming years.
....Premier Alison Redford says the money will be used to support people who have been evacuated, as well as to run relief centres and to start rebuilding infrastructure.
The government says it will provide pre-loaded debit cards to displaced residents to help with their immediate housing needs and day-to-day purchases.
Those who qualify will receive $1,250 per adult and $500 per child.
Redford says the unforeseen expense means Alberta won't meet its plans to balance the budget in the coming years.
Calgary mayor says most people can return home after floods
The Canadian Press
Published Monday, June 24, 2013 5:13AM EDT
Last Updated Monday, June 24, 2013 2:25PM EDT
Published Monday, June 24, 2013 5:13AM EDT
Last Updated Monday, June 24, 2013 2:25PM EDT
CALGARY -- Calgary's mayor says almost everyone in the city who fled last week's flood can return home.
Naheed Nenshi says only people who live in the downtown area and in a small area in the Inglewood neighbourhood east of the city's downtown are still being kept out.
Nenshi says people should stay away from the closed section of downtown so that the area can be re-opened as soon as possible.
He's warning that people need to be cautious as they return -- many houses won't have utility service.
About 75,000 people fled their homes last week as water spilled from the Bow and Elbow rivers, flooding many neighbourhoods.
Nenshi urged people to keep their spirits up as their neighbours experience the pain of returning to damaged homes.
He said he understood their frustration, but explained that the town's infrastructure had suffered a "critical blow" and every house needed to be inspected.
....
Naheed Nenshi says only people who live in the downtown area and in a small area in the Inglewood neighbourhood east of the city's downtown are still being kept out.
Nenshi says people should stay away from the closed section of downtown so that the area can be re-opened as soon as possible.
People build a sandbag dike in Medicine Hat, Alta., on Sunday, June 23, 2013. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)
About 75,000 people fled their homes last week as water spilled from the Bow and Elbow rivers, flooding many neighbourhoods.
Nenshi urged people to keep their spirits up as their neighbours experience the pain of returning to damaged homes.
He said he understood their frustration, but explained that the town's infrastructure had suffered a "critical blow" and every house needed to be inspected.
