The 2013 floods were disastrous for many in Calgary, resulting in one death and 80,000 citizens evacuated from the city, with 3000 buildings flooded, leaving 35,000 without power. In addition to damaged property, the floods were incredibly costly—resulting in billions of dollars in losses, and cutting into retail sales, tourism, and industries that complement our energy industry. The flood also hit Calgary’s small businesses hard, as they struggled to cope with losses and resolve insurance claims.
Our government is committed to protecting Calgary from flood events. Calgary is located on a floodplain where two rivers meet, so it’s essential that we make the right investments now to build a more flood-resilient city. Some of the important work this government has committed to includes:
- Moving forward with the Springbank Reservoir as an upstream storage site to protect the City of Calgary.
- Improving flood forecasting, flood mapping, and emergency preparedness measures. This includes maintaining inventories of equipment like sandbags, flood barriers, and high-volume water pumps.
- Investing in healthy wetlands by supporting the restoration and enhancement of over 1,500 hectares of wetlands and riparian lands in the Bow River basin.
- Reinforcing riverbanks at nearly 40 sites in Calgary to prevent flood-related erosion.
- Community protection projects, including the Centre Street Bridge lower deck flood barrier, the Inglewood Bridge, and improvements along West Eau Claire and Heritage Drive.
Calgarians need to know that all levels of government are committed to building the infrastructure that protects their homes and their livelihoods. I’m proud to stand with a government that takes Calgary’s safety and prosperity seriously for generations to come.
Questions, comments, or concerns? Feel free to email my office at [email protected] or call at 403-216-5430.
