Calgary better prepared for flooding, city tells residents at open house

The City of Calgary wants residents to know what steps government officials have been taking to get ready for the spring flood season, even as people bask in the summer-like sunshine and heat.

Officials held an information session for people in communities along the Bow River on Tuesday night.

River engineering lead Frank Frigo says in Calgary, flooding can happen very quickly. The riskiest period is May 15 to July 15.

"With the mountain catchments that we have, we have very rapid runoff response," he said.

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"We can turn from conditions like we have today — when we're clear and dry — to significant increases in water level and flow rate in both the Bow and the Elbow rivers in very short time frames."

Frigo says it's important for residents to keep in mind how quickly a flood situation can turn into an emergency, as it did during the disastrous floods three years ago. But Calgary is now far better prepared, he says.

"Since 2013, significant strides have been made. A lot of repair work has been done, we've improved the condition of our river banks, we've improved the function of our storm and sanitary drainage systems," Frigo said.

The Alberta government is launching a new smart-phone app for iOS and Androids that is designed to give municipal leaders access to the most up-to-the-minute information during flood events, says Evan Friesenhan, the province's director of river engineering.

"In real time, we can draw on that map and show municipalities in question what we see coming, in terms of the weather forecast and what we think is going to happen," he said.

Robert Nieuwesteeg, a board member of the Calgary River Communities Action Group, says while it's encouraging some mitigation projects are moving forward, his group has been somewhat excluded from the decision-making process.

"I think we have a little bit more status and a little bit more standing that we need to have a stronger voice  at the table," he said.

"All of it's good, but we're here and we're going to stay here until we've seen the follow­-through  commitment done. When the last shovel is put down and the last back hoe is pulled off location, we've  seen mitigation built for both rivers, we'll hopefully be able to disband our group for a good party."

An information session for people in Elbow River communities will be held Thursday night at the Calgary First Church of the Nazarene on Richard Way S.W.

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