Calgary State of Local Emergency Update

While significant progress has been made throughout the city, The City of Calgary remains in a state of local emergency while recovery and clean-up efforts continue.

 

Calgarians are reminded to stay off the rivers as well as away from the river banks. These areas are still dangerous and may have suffered serious and dangerous erosion in many places.

 

We thank all Calgarians who participated in City of Calgary Canada Day events.

A fireworks display from the Centre Street Bridge will cap today’s festivities at approximately 10:45 p.m. 

Important note: It is critical that citizens do not attempt to go near the Bow River to view the fireworks. The fireworks “fallout area” is also fenced off.

 

Citizens and business owners are reminded that mud, solid and slurry waste from basements, underground parking facilities and other buildings is NOT to be dumped into our river systems. This waste material could contain contaminants.

The City of Calgary has provided one emergency dumping facility for this waste disposal:

Non-hazardous solids may be taken to any of The City of Calgary landfills.

Discharge and dumping of mud, solids and slurry waste are regulated by Alberta Environment and the Department of Fisheries. All incidents of improper dumping will be investigated.

The Centre Street Church Reception Centre is changing its hours. Effective today, the Centre Street Church will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Displaced residents must register at Centre Street Church (3900 2 St NE) to access reception centre services between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily

 

The Community Support Centre in Hillhurst/Sunnyside, at 1320 5 Avenue NW, closed at noon on Monday, July 1 due to low attendance.

The remaining four Community Support Centres have been very well used and will continue to be open from 8 am to 10 pm daily:

The Government of Alberta has committed $1 billion as immediate support for Alberta families for the first phase of emergency recovery. This Provincial funding is distributed through two separate programs:  pre-loaded debit cards and the Disaster Recovery Program.

 

Monday, July 1: until 8 p.m.

Both the Drop In Centre and the Food Bank provide valuable services to vulnerable populations. The Drop In Centre needs to replenish its supplies of food, much of which were destroyed in the flood.

Demand on the Food Bank is also high trying to support those who have been displaced and are returning to spoiled foods and empty fridges.

Starting Tuesday, July 2, the Calgary Food Bank warehouse, located at 5000-11 Street S.E. will be receiving donations of perishable and non-perishable food items.

 

The City’s Waste & Recycling employees will continue to monitor all areas impacted by flooding at least once a day to ensure household damaged goods are removed as soon as possible.

 

Southland and Village Square Leisure Centres are now open to the public. Both had been closed to house evacuees during the flood. Glenmore Reservoir is also open again and the Beltline Aquatic Centre will be opening July 2 at 6:30 a.m.

With those four re-openings, all recreation facilities in Calgary are once again open to the public.

All children’s summer programs offered by The City are on track to be provided.

 

The Calgary Food Bank is working hard to meet the needs of those who are still displaced as well as those returning home to spoiled food and empty fridges.

Starting Tuesday, July 2, the Calgary Food Bank warehouse, located at 5000-11 Street SE will be receiving donations of perishable and non-perishable food items.

More information about how to donate to the Calgary Food Bank on their website at www.calgaryfoodbank.com.

 

While restrictions have been lifted we ask that Calgarians continue to use water wisely. Visit Calgary.ca for water conservation tips. The City’s water quality remains good.

 

The train gap on the 201 line between downtown and Heritage continues, and six of 144 City transit routes are currently being detoured. These are: 17, 31, 72, 112, 412, and 419.

For details on closures and progress, view the Google map created by Transportation on Calgary.ca

 

All areas of downtown have access to electrical service. However individual buildings may still be without power or closed because of damage to infrastructure. If you are a business tenant and have question, contact your property or landlord. If you are a downtown worker and have questions, ask your employer.

The area with the greatest challenge remains the East Village, where many of the buildings that are still without connection to Enmax power are located.

 

Parking lot operators are working hard to make alternative arrangements for their monthly clients and restore service in lots which have been closed. However, there will be challenges tomorrow – there is a significant reduction in downtown parking capacity. So check your parking lot operators web site for the latest updates.

Calgarians are encouraged to consider taking Transit, walking, biking or teleworking.

 

Limited public services will be available at the Municipal Building, 800 Macleod Tr. S., beginning Tuesday, July 2.  The Development & Building Approvals counter and City cashier counters only, on the third floor, will be open to the public 8 a,m, to 4:30 p.m. Enmax bills can be paid at the cashier counter but no other Enmax inquiries can be handled at this location at this time.

 

A reminder that the Civic Parkade is currently closed and parking throughout the downtown core is limited.