Update: State of Local Emergency

The City of Calgary’s local state of emergency was lifted on Thursday, July 4, 2013 at 10:16 a.m. The Municipal Emergency Plan remains in effect as recovery and relief efforts continue.

 

The City of Calgary declared a local state of emergency June 20, 2013 in response to significant flooding. A state of emergency was declared to give The City of Calgary power to conscript resources as needed, circumvent bylaws, and allocate finances as required to immediately address emergency situations and ensure public safety.

 

Under the Municipal Emergency Plan, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency and various partners will continue to work together in coordinating recovery and relief efforts resulting from the flooding.

 

 “Our work is now transitioning from city-wide emergency disaster response to localized recovery and relief efforts,” says Director of Calgary Emergency Management Agency Bruce Burrell. “Now that the majority of our city is functional again, focus will shift to specific buildings and populations that are dealing with long-term flooding impacts. Public safety has always been, and continues to be, our first priority.”

 

While the city is no longer is a state of local emergency, Calgarians are reminded to stay off the rivers and away from riverbanks which have been badly eroded and are not safe.

 

“Many people have been devastated by this flood and their personal recovery will be a long and difficult journey,” says Burrell. “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all Calgarians for their outpouring of generosity these past two weeks and encourage everyone to continue helping those in need. Rebuilding our city starts with rebuilding our people.”

 

As the scope of work narrows to address localized recovery and relief efforts, the following operational and process changes are underway.

 

Over the last two weeks, The City has provided reception centres to help connect Calgarians displaced by the flood with essentials such as food, clothing and shelter.  As the majority of citizens have now been connected, the need for reception centres has greatly diminished. 

 

Effective immediately, the registration centre located at Centre Street Church has closed.

 

If you have been displaced by the flood, in need of housing, and have not previously registered at the Centre Street Church registration centre, please call 3-1-1 and indicate you have been displaced by the flood and in need of housing.

 

Displaced residents are reminded to:

For counselling and emotional support services, please contact the Distress Centre’s crisis line at 403-266-4357. Trained volunteers are available to answer your call 24/7.

For information on community, health, social services and other agencies who can answer questions in many languages 24 hours a day, please call 211.

 

Community Support Centres were established in flood affected areas to support citizens and small business owners with information and coordination of required essential services. As the majority of essential services have now been restored, the three Community Support Centres remaining are planned to close as follows:

Thank you to all the local recovery volunteers and organizations who have greatly contributed to the recovery efforts. Your ongoing efforts are greatly appreciated.

 

Please continue to visit www.Calgary.ca for current information.