EDMONTON – After a week of rapid rising waters wreaking havoc in the Fort McMurray area, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo lifted its state of local emergency at 1:30 p.m. on Monday.
The voluntary evacuation orders which had been in effect for Ptarmigan Court, Grayling Terrace and the southerly portion of Draper Road have also been rescinded.
“We want to thank all of our residents for their co-operation and compassion during this trying time,” said Mayor Melissa Blake in a release. “Everyone came together and I am confident this generous and strong community spirit will continue as we move to the next stage.”
Emergency crews continue to monitor the fast-flowing, high water that still remains in the region. For their own safety, residents are strongly advised to stay away from streams and riverbanks.
As well, two temporary spans were constructed Sunday night to allow campers in the Richardson Backcountry Area to return home to Fort McMurray. There have been reports that the temporary span on the north side of the Firebag River Bridge has partially collapsed into the river. There are a minimum of 18 individuals stranded on the north side of the river. Work crews have been dispatched and signage has been put up, warning all back-country travelers to stay south of the river.
The state of emergency for the area had originally been declared last Tuesday evening, due to flooding of the Hangingstone River and flooding concerns of the Clearwater River and its tributaries.
The high water levels from the Hangingstone River caused flooding in parts of the town site, as well as prompted evacuations and a boil water advisory.
Blake said she has never seen anything like this in her 30 years in the community.
Neither has fire chief Darby Allen. “This is something that is unprecedented in our community,” he said last week.
Affected residents who require ongoing support are encouraged to contact the citizen inquiry line from 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. at 780-762-3639 or by email at flood.info@woodbuffalo.ab.ca.
For more information, follow the municipality’s Twitter account, or Facebook page.
With files from Laurel Clark, Global News
Here’s a look at what some of the residents in the area were dealing with last week, as captured by social media:
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