EDMONTON – While flooding has certainly affected businesses in downtown Calgary, it has also had a domino effect on some Edmonton businesses.
Sabel Homes, whose head office is in Calgary, had its servers shut down on Friday when ENMAX turned off power to the city’s downtown core. On Monday, the Edmonton office was only about half-staffed as the company scrambled to keep in touch with clients, despite the lack of computer access.
Vice president of Sales Richard Drader says that although he remembers the days when work was done without computers, going without the technology now is a different ballgame.
“We’re so wired, it’s painful…We are very, very dependent on the electronics we have in our lives,” he says.
“Of course everything is done online now,” adds his VP of Operations Wayne Bulitz. “So there’s not a whole lot that a lot of departments can do at this point.”
The business hopes to be fully operational by Wednesday. But until then, it’s relying on keeping in touch with clients the old-fashioned way: by phone.
Other businesses, meanwhile, are working double time as customers and services are redirected to Edmonton for support because of flooding in the southern part of the province.
For instance, registries in Calgary are closed and urgent inquiries are being directed to Edmonton by email or fax.
Any court appeals and special hearings in Calgary are also being adjourned until Thursday; case management is being rerouted to Edmonton if any procedural deadlines need to be extended (to contact Court Management Services call 780- 427-8491).
Meanwhile, back at Sabel Homes, some staff are trying to make the most of the downtime. Plans are also in the works for a possible road trip to help out their Calgary co-workers.
“Really we have an obligation as Albertans, and really as Canadians,” says Drader, “to help where and when we can.”
With files from Jenna Bridges, Global News
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