State of Local Emergency - Update 3 a.m., Saturday, June 22

The City of Calgary remains in a state of local emergency due to significant flooding.

 

We are continuously assessing evacuated communities to determine when residents may be able to return home. Currently, the high-ground areas in Discovery Ridge are being assessed to determine when residents might return. All affected residents are asked to listen to media reports and visit www.calgary.ca for more information.
 
All Calgarians are asked to refrain from non-essential travel. Many roads, bridges and pathways around the city are closed or limited due to flooding.  Access to the downtown core is not expected to resume until mid-next week.

 

 

Calgary’s water quality remains good despite the continued high flows on the Elbow and Bow Rivers.  There is no need to boil water as the water from your tap is clean and safe to drink.

 

However the water treatment plants are continuing to be challenged to meet the demand for water.  The river flows continue to bring extremely high levels of silt into the drinking water treatment plants. The silt is slowing down the treatment process and reducing our ability to provide sufficient quantities to meet demand.

 

The City requests that Calgarians and businesses continue to only use water they absolutely need. Please:

• Limit showers to five minutes and keep baths shallow.
• Reduce toilet flushing.
• Use washing machines and dishwashers only if necessary and only with full loads.
• Turn off taps when brushing teeth or shaving
• Don’t water your lawns and ensure that sprinklers on timers are turned off.
• Don’t wash your vehicle.

 

 

A number of reception centres for evacuees have been set up across the city. Currently, the following centres have capacity to accept evacuees:
 
• Acadia Recreation Complex (240 90 Ave. SE)
• Village Square Leisure Centre (2623 56 St. NE)
• Central Memorial High School (5111 21 St. SW) 
• Southland Leisure Centre (2000 Southland Dr. SW)
• St. Francis High School (877 Northmount Dr. NW) Registrations only, no lodging
• Centre Street Church (3900 2 St NE) Registrations only, no lodging

 

*Please note that the reception centre at Canada Olympic Park/Winsport will no longer be in service as of 10 a.m. Saturday. Evacuees are being relocated to Village Square Leisure Centre.
 
The Canadian Red Cross has established a phone number to assist Calgarians with connecting to family members who have been displaced. Contact the Red Cross at: 1-866-696-6484.

 

The City has a high degree of confidence in the structural integrity of its bridges. Once the water recedes all city bridges will undergo a comprehensive engineering evaluation.

 

The City is asking all citizens to help the authorities who are responding to this emergency by observing these restrictions:
 
• The City is asking those who do not need to be in the downtown core to avoid it. Please restrict the downtown to local traffic only.
• Pedestrians are asked to stay off all bridges.
• Do not use the phone unless you are requesting help or reporting an important event. Unnecessary phone calls could overload the telephone system and limit the authorities' ability to communicate.
 

 

Starting Saturday, June 22 there will be changes to the following Bus Routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 18, 40, 72, 73, 112, B201, B202, 301, 405, 407 and 408. These changes will be in effect until further notice.

 

For more detailed route information please visit calgarytransit.com

Donations
The City appreciates the outpouring of donations and offers to volunteer from Calgarians. However, all reception centres have established food and other required supplies, and cannot accept non-City volunteers at this time.  Thank you all for your generosity and putting citizens first. Monetary donations can be made to Red Cross 1-800-418-1111 or at www.redcross.ca.

Call 311 for flood-related calls only. Call 911 in case of emergency.
 
Please visit Calgary.ca for current information.

 

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