Calgary,
16
May
2017
|
13:00
America/Denver

Calgary’s annual flood season has begun - Understand, be prepared and stay informed

CALGARY – Flooding can occur at any time in Calgary, although the period between May 15 and July 15 is when we are most likely to experience flooding. Historically, this is when we experience our largest widespread rainfalls.

The City of Calgary’s priority when planning for and responding to flooding is public safety and ensuring the sustainability of the city through protection of critical infrastructure, vital community services, the environment and the economy.

Every year The City of Calgary monitors precipitation levels, reservoir and lake levels, stream flow rates, snowpack depth, soil moisture and weather models. We work with partner organizations, irrigation districts, internal groups and other municipalities to understand watershed conditions that may impact Calgary. Depending on the watershed conditions, we may make changes to Glenmore Reservoir levels and work with partners such as TransAlta Utilities to respond to conditions. And if necessary, we will enact emergency response measures.

The City prepares annually for flooding by:

  • Developing and maintaining emergency response plans.
  • Conducting training sessions and exercises for City personnel.
  • Identifying those areas of the city and critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to flooding.
  • Ensuring adequate emergency resources are in place.
  • Sharing information with Calgarians, businesses, stakeholders and other municipalities.
  • Operating existing infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs and outfall gates, to reduce flow rates and mitigate flood damage.

“The City strives to maintain all critical business functions and services to Calgarians during any emergency or disaster including flooding,” says Frank Frigo, Leader, Watershed Analysis. “The City simply cannot prevent or mitigate all flood risk to all private properties. Property owners must also be prepared for flood season, and remain responsible for protecting their property.”

The first step towards protecting yourself is knowing your flood risk and the sources of information available to you:

  • Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo to understand your flood risk, and for detailed information on how you can be prepared for flood season. You can also download a copy of the Flood Readiness Guide.
  • Prepare your 72-hour emergency kit. This kit holds supplies to support you and your family for three days in an emergency situation.
  • Visit Alberta Environment’s river basin website and download the river monitoring app by searching for "Alberta Rivers" on your device.
  • Listen for and sign up for Alberta Emergency Alerts (AEA). Alberta Emergency Alerts interrupt local broadcasting. As well, you can download the AEA app to a smart device to receive notifications.

Understand, be prepared and stay informed by knowing your flood ​risk and how to prepare for flood conditions.

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Media Contact:

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The City of Calgary
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