April 14, 2014
Mr. Mayor and City Council: Calgary Emergency Preparedness for 2014
In March 2014, RBC’s provincial outlook forecasted Alberta to be at the top rank of provincial growth for 2014 and to roll into 2015 equally strong. The driver of Alberta’s prosperous economy is not just the expansion of oil sands projects, but also include gains in export markets, crude oil and bitumen production, consumer spending, the housing market and non-residential capital investments in sectors others than oil and gas1.
The economic engine driving Alberta’s prosperous economy is The City of Calgary. Calgary has seen steady population growth for the past 30 years, which speaks to more and more people wanting to “be part of the energy” that Calgary has to offer.
The spirit of Calgarians is what attracts many individuals across the world to Calgary. When the devastating flood hit Calgary in June 2013, it was the spirit of Calgarians that brought the City back on its feet. It was also the spirit of Calgarians that provided the glimmer of hope in a time of tragedy and loss. As we are approaching the one-year anniversary of the flood, Calgarians along the Bow and Elbow River communities are calling upon City Council to implement viable community emergency preparedness and response strategies “for a better Calgary.”
When the emergency Chief tells residents in Bow and Elbow River communities that temporary flood mitigation equipment are safety hazards, and that people should only be concerned with evacuating2, it is the spirit of Calgarians that are coming together “for a better Calgary.”
A better Calgary means City Council supporting and committing to public safety first. Such a commitment requires working with leaders in Bow and Elbow River communities to create community emergency preparedness and response strategies for this upcoming flood season. Leaders in Rideau-Roxboro have commissioned an independent hydrology study along the Elbow River that provides recommendations on where to place temporary emergency flood control barriers to protect the community. The recommendations from this study are completely transferrable to other Elbow River communities such as: Elbow Park, Elboya, Erlton, Mission, Ramsay, Britannia, and Discovery Ridge. Leaders in Sunnyside have priced out a list of temporary emergency equipment that can be deployed in the community to prevent the Bow River from overtopping the berms and mitigate for potential storm sewer water backup from the upper plateau. The strategies developed by these leaders can be easily adopted in other Bow and Elbow River communities to protect people, property and City infrastructure. Canadian Red Cross participated with residents of Rideau-Roxboro to conduct a community audit as to a state of preparedness.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT provide support to residents in Bow and Elbow River communities for this upcoming flood season.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT provide details and specifications of emergency equipment and where emergency equipment will be deployed in Bow and Elbow River communities for this upcoming flood season.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT support and commit to the protection of people, property and City infrastructure in Bow and Elbow River communities.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan was NOT developed in consultation with community leaders desiring a commitment “for a better Calgary.”
As the economic engine of Alberta, the City of Calgary cannot afford to not invest in immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and adequate equipment. Community leaders championing “for a better Calgary” have come together to ask the City to:
· Support immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and adequate equipment to meet community needs
· Listen, meet and collaboration with community leaders willing to develop and implement community emergency disaster preparedness strategies in their own river communities
The time “for a better Calgary” is now. Investing in community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and equipment will benefit and provide long-term savings to all Calgarians, and continue to attract people around the world to “be part of the energy” of Calgary.
We look forward to your commitment to Calgarians living, working, and/or utilizing critical services in Bow and Elbow River Communities.
Sincerely,
James Maxim ([email protected], 403-973-8900)
Brian Bass ([email protected])
Michael Bradfield ([email protected])
Gloria Mak ([email protected])
Deborah Murray ([email protected])
Maureen Bell ([email protected])
Lee Prevost ([email protected])
1RBC Economics Research Provincial Outlook March 2014 (http://www.rbc.com/economics/economic-reports/pdf/provincial-forecasts/alta.pdf)
2Emergency boss warns against civilians building their own flood protection. Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald, April 8, 2014.
(http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/many+sandbags+inflatable+berms+hazardous+during+flood+Burrell/9715137/story.html)
Mr. Mayor and City Council: Calgary Emergency Preparedness for 2014
In March 2014, RBC’s provincial outlook forecasted Alberta to be at the top rank of provincial growth for 2014 and to roll into 2015 equally strong. The driver of Alberta’s prosperous economy is not just the expansion of oil sands projects, but also include gains in export markets, crude oil and bitumen production, consumer spending, the housing market and non-residential capital investments in sectors others than oil and gas1.
The economic engine driving Alberta’s prosperous economy is The City of Calgary. Calgary has seen steady population growth for the past 30 years, which speaks to more and more people wanting to “be part of the energy” that Calgary has to offer.
The spirit of Calgarians is what attracts many individuals across the world to Calgary. When the devastating flood hit Calgary in June 2013, it was the spirit of Calgarians that brought the City back on its feet. It was also the spirit of Calgarians that provided the glimmer of hope in a time of tragedy and loss. As we are approaching the one-year anniversary of the flood, Calgarians along the Bow and Elbow River communities are calling upon City Council to implement viable community emergency preparedness and response strategies “for a better Calgary.”
When the emergency Chief tells residents in Bow and Elbow River communities that temporary flood mitigation equipment are safety hazards, and that people should only be concerned with evacuating2, it is the spirit of Calgarians that are coming together “for a better Calgary.”
A better Calgary means City Council supporting and committing to public safety first. Such a commitment requires working with leaders in Bow and Elbow River communities to create community emergency preparedness and response strategies for this upcoming flood season. Leaders in Rideau-Roxboro have commissioned an independent hydrology study along the Elbow River that provides recommendations on where to place temporary emergency flood control barriers to protect the community. The recommendations from this study are completely transferrable to other Elbow River communities such as: Elbow Park, Elboya, Erlton, Mission, Ramsay, Britannia, and Discovery Ridge. Leaders in Sunnyside have priced out a list of temporary emergency equipment that can be deployed in the community to prevent the Bow River from overtopping the berms and mitigate for potential storm sewer water backup from the upper plateau. The strategies developed by these leaders can be easily adopted in other Bow and Elbow River communities to protect people, property and City infrastructure. Canadian Red Cross participated with residents of Rideau-Roxboro to conduct a community audit as to a state of preparedness.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT provide support to residents in Bow and Elbow River communities for this upcoming flood season.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT provide details and specifications of emergency equipment and where emergency equipment will be deployed in Bow and Elbow River communities for this upcoming flood season.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan does NOT support and commit to the protection of people, property and City infrastructure in Bow and Elbow River communities.
The City of Calgary’s emergency disaster preparedness plan was NOT developed in consultation with community leaders desiring a commitment “for a better Calgary.”
As the economic engine of Alberta, the City of Calgary cannot afford to not invest in immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and adequate equipment. Community leaders championing “for a better Calgary” have come together to ask the City to:
· Support immediate community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and adequate equipment to meet community needs
· Listen, meet and collaboration with community leaders willing to develop and implement community emergency disaster preparedness strategies in their own river communities
The time “for a better Calgary” is now. Investing in community emergency disaster preparedness strategies and equipment will benefit and provide long-term savings to all Calgarians, and continue to attract people around the world to “be part of the energy” of Calgary.
We look forward to your commitment to Calgarians living, working, and/or utilizing critical services in Bow and Elbow River Communities.
Sincerely,
James Maxim ([email protected], 403-973-8900)
Brian Bass ([email protected])
Michael Bradfield ([email protected])
Gloria Mak ([email protected])
Deborah Murray ([email protected])
Maureen Bell ([email protected])
Lee Prevost ([email protected])
1RBC Economics Research Provincial Outlook March 2014 (http://www.rbc.com/economics/economic-reports/pdf/provincial-forecasts/alta.pdf)
2Emergency boss warns against civilians building their own flood protection. Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald, April 8, 2014.
(http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/many+sandbags+inflatable+berms+hazardous+during+flood+Burrell/9715137/story.html)