Alberta flood 2013

• Topics: Ecology
• Pages: 4
• Words: 920
• Date added: May 4, 2020

 

The flood was happened in June2013

It was the largest flood in Calgary. It caused financial loss as well as property damage for many Calgarians. Many families were forced to evacuate from their houses. It was occurred due to extreme weather condition for over three days. Heavy rainfall on Rocky Mountains caused rapid and intense flooding in southern Alberta. It rises the water level of Bow river and Elbow river. Due to this, the city issued the state of emergency. About 80,000 people were evacuated.

The Human impact

They lost their personal belongings and 4 people died in worst flooding. Three people found dead near the river.one was missing. Fourth person was the elderly woman. Many people faced heavy financial burdens to clean their homes, recover from damage.

Environmental impact

Flood water can contain debris. Debris can include trees and stones.it creates environment degradation. It affects the wildlife as well. Flood caused the riverbank erosion by high and fast-moving water which was exceeds the riverbank.

The economic impact

It was estimated that about $6 million financial loss. The Alberta government announced about $ 1 billion for flood recovery in province.

Alberta government create strategic plan that guide the Albertans in 2013

They created this plan for future use. The flood recovery plans are as follows:

• Mitigation
• Flood causes more loss in Canada

So, the federal government created one-time mitigation funds which cover the 50% implementing cost that helps the province to mitigate the loss caused by natural disaster. Federal government was responsible for rebuilding. In support of Canada financial support assistance was calculated based upon the cost of damage per capita. By this, Alberta received maximum support for recovery. After this, Alberta introduce many mitigation measures. The province promised to cover 15 % of building cost. This included building houses with weather resistant materials. Also cover plumbing and sealing in basements. The province also planned seven goals in 2013. These are as follows:

Honour Alberta’s communities

he Alberta communities are safe and culturally diverse place to live. The honor Alberta communities’ goals was same for the people which were affected by flood. This goal provided the provincial support and guides the local leader about recovery plan

Support vulnerable Albertans

This goal was created to support vulnerable Albertan communities such as benefits. They help Albertans those who lost their houses during flood. About thousands of people get affected by flood in 2013.

Health support

Alberta public health ensured that communities which were affected by flood were able access public health service. They provide enough support to lead healthy lives during disaster.

Invest in learning

Alberta government gave support in learning. They support many institutes and schools which were damaged during flood. They give support to reconstruct them.

Innovative and responsible resource development

Alberta disaster management developed innovative resources to support and protect Alberta environment. They gave plans to manage water and land in use to mitigate the flood hazards.

Build relationship and Market

Strategic plan depend upon the relationship between government, businesses and communities. The goal was to ensure the Albertans has access the new market. They would have strong partnership with federal government.

Role of environmental health

The environmental health officer was responsible to treat, monitor and to regulate the drinking water in Alberta.

Water security

Environmental health professionals had tried to control the waste after flood. The flood water waste can be infectious waste. Infectious waste can have adverse effect for general public health as well as for animals. Eating and drinking by using contaminated water can lead to diarrheal disease. The Alberta environmental health officers advise parents not to allow their children to play in floodwater. The city lowered the water level in Glenmore reservoir to reduce flooding without effecting the treatment plan operations used to supply drinking water to Calgarians safely. They construct many temporarily flood barrier at many locations.

Glenmore Reservoirs and dam operation

The reservoirs and dam were constructed near Elbow river. They construct it to provide safe drinking water to the Calgarians. Also, they construct it to store water for drinking, for recreational opportunities and to reduce high river flows. To reduce the high river flows effect and to create sustainability, they monitor the water level and try to down the water level in the mid of May to reduce flooding.

Furthermore, Alberta environmental health service provides the information on their website for people that how they can clean their house after flood:

Food

People should have to dispose all the vegetables, fresh fruits and all metal cans. Discard all the food from fridge or freezer if the electric supply was off for more than 48 hours.

Personal protection equipment

Flood water may contain debris which is risky for health. Alberta health service recommended people to wear waterproof boots, rubber gloves and face mask. They recommended them to wash their hands regularly, avoid touching skin with contaminated gloves.

Floors

To clean and sanitizes the floor they must remove all furniture. Remove wet carpet and sanitize all the floor with bleach solution.

Carpets

They remove the carpets from their house, if the carpet was expensive then they call professional to sanitize it.

References:

Calgary.ca. 2020. The Flood Of 2013. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 April 2020].
Fcpp.org. 2020. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 April 2020].
Alberta.ca. 2020. [online] Available at: [Accessed 13 April 2020].