Water level watches on local rivers intensify
Posted Jun 27, 2012 7:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
People who live along the Highwood and Sheep rivers are wondering if recent rains will elevate flood watches into warnings; Alberta Sustainable Resources will update its stream forecast later Wednesday.
Some welcome news out of the Town of High River where the Emergency Operations Centre, which was fired up again Tuesday, has been shut down because flood concerns have eased.
The director of emergency management in High River tells 660News the decision to close their operations centre follows assurances that major flooding will now not occur.
In Okotoks, sandbagging efforts for homeowners along the Sheep River have been ramped up.
Homeowners along the Bow and Elbow rivers in Calgary, which are still under high streamflow advisories, are being warned about possible basement seepage.
Valuables should be removed from basements, floor drains should be capped and those planning to run a sump pump are being told to make sure they are running properly.
The affected communities are Bowness, Parkdale, Sunnyside, Chinatown, Eau Clair, East Village, Hillhurst, Downtown, Inglewood, Bonnybrook, Riverdale, Elbow Park, Stanley Park, Parkhill, Rideau Park, Mission and Roxboro.
Much of the pathway system along the Elbow River remains closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic, a closure that will likely remain in effect right through the Canada Day long weekend.
People are not only being told to stay off the water, but to stay away from the banks of local waterways because of instability.
Despite heightened concern about flooding, the overall consensus is the situation this year still isn’t as bad as it was in 2005 when many rainfall records were established.
