Residents pack the conference room for Calgary’s first flood info session
Posted Jul 21, 2013 6:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Close to 200 people packed into a conference room at the Blackfoot Inn on Saturday for Calgary’s first flood information session.
Many questions from residents centered on flood rebuilding efforts and how much insurance money they will receive.
But the forum seemed to leave residents with more questions then answers – leaving many still wondering if it’s best to move, or rebuild.
Residents in flood-stricken communities felt the message from the forum was “get out or we won’t help you next time.”
The provincial government has agreed to foot the bill to repair and rebuild damaged homes in floodways – but will not pay for damages caused in any future floods should residents choose to stay.
Homeowners living in floodways can receive one-time provincial aid to move – with in – their current community but many suggest they’d rather take a government issued check and move away from any major waterways.
This way of thinking is leaving some residents concerned that communities will be ripped apart.
Elbow park resident Greg Clark told The Calgary Herald he’s worried they will end up with a Swiss cheese community, with a patchwork of empty lots.
Government spokesman Howard May told reporters the province still needs to iron out the details, and that the situation is still evolving.
