Calgary flood protection ‘significantly’ improved since 2013: City
Posted Apr 27, 2023 3:57 pm.
Last Updated Apr 28, 2023 10:13 am.
Nearly ten years since the 2013 floods, the City of Calgary says its flood protection protocol has improved “significantly.”
According to the city’s Annual Flood Resilience Report, flood damage exposure has been reduced by 55 per cent.
In addition, it will increase to 70 per cent in 2025 with the completion of the Springbank Offstream Reservoir and other measures.
“It is timely for us to be able to report on flood protection improvements this year – 10 years since we experienced the largest disaster in Canadian history at that time,” Mayor Joyti Gondek said in a statement.
“Today, Calgary is more resilient to flooding thanks to The City’s commitment and the commitment of our funding and community partners. We will continue with this good work to further reduce the risks.”
A poster of Calgary’s flood protection progress. (Courtesy of the City of Calgary)
The city says 25 projects have been finished over the past decade, along with other riverbank protection.
The projects include the raising and rehabilitation of the 12 Street SE bridge, downtown and west Eau Claire flood barriers, the Calgary Zoo flood mitigation, and the Centre Street Bridge Lower Deck flood barrier.
Read More: Calgary remembers 2013 floods, anxiety that came with it
Successful milestones in 2022 include the completion of the Downtown Flood barrier, progress on “additional infrastructure projects,” and key learnings from June’s emergency response.
More information on the city’s Annual Flood Preparedness Campaign can be found online.
