Mr. Mayor and City Council: Calgary Flood preparedness for 2014
In June 2013, catastrophic flooding devastated communities along the Bow, Elbow, Sheep, Little Bow, and Highwood rivers. The Alberta Government described the 2013 Alberta floods as one of the worse in Alberta’s history. With total damages estimated to exceed $6 billion and insurable damaged projected to reach $3 billion, the 2013 Alberta floods is one of the costliest disasters in Canadian history.
As the waters receded in the City of Calgary, Calgarians spontaneously came together to assist fellow Calgarians in the flood-effected communities along the Bow and Elbow rivers. To this day, some of those who helped out in the massive cleanup efforts remain anonymous to flood-effected homeowners. This demonstrates the philanthropic spirit of Calgarians and what makes Calgary a unique city.
The impact of the devastating disaster of June 2013 is still on the minds of many Calgarians. As the 2014 flood season approaches, Bow and Elbow River communities are coming together to advocate for immediate and long-term disaster preparedness strategies. With historic records showing Calgary experiencing larger floods than 2013, the possibility of another catastrophic flooding event of larger magnitude is imminent.
The time to address immediate community disaster preparedness strategies that will mitigate the impact of flood on public safety is now. Although upstream infrastructure projects will have the greatest overall impact in mitigating for costly damages to The City of Calgary, such projects will take a number of years to complete.
In the interim, Calgarians need leaders that are knowledgeable, accountable, and socially responsible. Calgarians deserve transparency and collaboration from these leaders on future steps and specifically what is being done to protect our river communities from the next disaster. Anxiety levels within the flood-effected communities along the Bow and Elbow rivers are premised on the fact that The City of Calgary has not been forth coming on its operational emergency disaster preparedness plans for each of the flood-effected communities of June 2013.
We would like answers to the following questions:
· What is The City of Calgary’s operational emergency disaster preparedness plan for this upcoming flood season? When will this emergency operational plan be announced?
· How will The City of Calgary support Bow and Elbow river communities in their own disaster preparedness efforts for flood mitigation?
Individual leaders in Bow and Elbow river communities are pursuing emergency disaster preparedness strategies for flood mitigation. Such leaders include people like James Maxim Rideau Park, Lee Prevost Roxboro Residents and Maureen Bell (Elbow River Communities) and Brian Bass, Gloria Mak, Michael Bradfield and Deborah Murray-Sunnyside Residents (Bow River Communities) and countless residents from each of the flooded communities of Calgary are involved. Presentations from these individuals have been forwarded to Council, which outline various disaster preparedness strategies for The City of Calgary to consider for the flood-effected communities of Calgary.
Our communities and local businesses need the support of our municipal and provincial governments to invest in immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and equipment. Such an investment will result in long-term savings and benefits to all Calgarians. The risks and costs of not investing in such community emergency disaster preparedness strategies is negligence on behalf of local and provincial governments.
We look forward to your ongoing commitment to the citizens of Calgary, and working in partnership with The City of Calgary to make community emergency disaster preparedness a reality and a win for leaders in The City of Calgary.
Sincerely,
James Maxim [email protected]
Brian Bass [email protected]
Gloria Mak [email protected]
Michael Bradfield [email protected]
Deborah Murray [email protected]
Maureen Bell [email protected]
Lee Prevost [email protected]
For further information please call
James Maxim
Cell: 403 9738900
Sunday April 6, 2014
In June 2013, catastrophic flooding devastated communities along the Bow, Elbow, Sheep, Little Bow, and Highwood rivers. The Alberta Government described the 2013 Alberta floods as one of the worse in Alberta’s history. With total damages estimated to exceed $6 billion and insurable damaged projected to reach $3 billion, the 2013 Alberta floods is one of the costliest disasters in Canadian history.
As the waters receded in the City of Calgary, Calgarians spontaneously came together to assist fellow Calgarians in the flood-effected communities along the Bow and Elbow rivers. To this day, some of those who helped out in the massive cleanup efforts remain anonymous to flood-effected homeowners. This demonstrates the philanthropic spirit of Calgarians and what makes Calgary a unique city.
The impact of the devastating disaster of June 2013 is still on the minds of many Calgarians. As the 2014 flood season approaches, Bow and Elbow River communities are coming together to advocate for immediate and long-term disaster preparedness strategies. With historic records showing Calgary experiencing larger floods than 2013, the possibility of another catastrophic flooding event of larger magnitude is imminent.
The time to address immediate community disaster preparedness strategies that will mitigate the impact of flood on public safety is now. Although upstream infrastructure projects will have the greatest overall impact in mitigating for costly damages to The City of Calgary, such projects will take a number of years to complete.
In the interim, Calgarians need leaders that are knowledgeable, accountable, and socially responsible. Calgarians deserve transparency and collaboration from these leaders on future steps and specifically what is being done to protect our river communities from the next disaster. Anxiety levels within the flood-effected communities along the Bow and Elbow rivers are premised on the fact that The City of Calgary has not been forth coming on its operational emergency disaster preparedness plans for each of the flood-effected communities of June 2013.
We would like answers to the following questions:
· What is The City of Calgary’s operational emergency disaster preparedness plan for this upcoming flood season? When will this emergency operational plan be announced?
· How will The City of Calgary support Bow and Elbow river communities in their own disaster preparedness efforts for flood mitigation?
Individual leaders in Bow and Elbow river communities are pursuing emergency disaster preparedness strategies for flood mitigation. Such leaders include people like James Maxim Rideau Park, Lee Prevost Roxboro Residents and Maureen Bell (Elbow River Communities) and Brian Bass, Gloria Mak, Michael Bradfield and Deborah Murray-Sunnyside Residents (Bow River Communities) and countless residents from each of the flooded communities of Calgary are involved. Presentations from these individuals have been forwarded to Council, which outline various disaster preparedness strategies for The City of Calgary to consider for the flood-effected communities of Calgary.
Our communities and local businesses need the support of our municipal and provincial governments to invest in immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and equipment. Such an investment will result in long-term savings and benefits to all Calgarians. The risks and costs of not investing in such community emergency disaster preparedness strategies is negligence on behalf of local and provincial governments.
We look forward to your ongoing commitment to the citizens of Calgary, and working in partnership with The City of Calgary to make community emergency disaster preparedness a reality and a win for leaders in The City of Calgary.
Sincerely,
James Maxim [email protected]
Brian Bass [email protected]
Gloria Mak [email protected]
Michael Bradfield [email protected]
Deborah Murray [email protected]
Maureen Bell [email protected]
Lee Prevost [email protected]
For further information please call
James Maxim
Cell: 403 9738900
Sunday April 6, 2014