Re-entry plans are being made for residents who have been forced from their homes in Fort McMurray due to flooding. However, officials with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo say they’re not ready for residents to return home just yet.
In an update Thursday afternoon, the director of emergency management with the RMWB said the ice jam on the Athabasca River has further receded. But Scott Davis said there is still about five to eight kilometres of ice up the Clearwater River from the downtown Fort McMurray area.
“Should that break up and flow through in a natural manner, then that risk is low,” Davis said.
However, there are concerns should the ice decide to jam.
“We have to be cognizant that if that ice jams — if in the same location as the Lower Townsite — we could have another problem of flooding. So we continue to err on the side of caution.”
Davis said they are working with Alberta Environment and Parks to continue to monitor the water levels.
In an update Thursday afternoon, Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon said the Athabasca River has dropped by about three-and-a-half metres and the Clearwater River has dropped by about one metre.
Nixon said river forecasting experts anticipate the water along the Athabasca will continue to slowly fall throughout the day. He added that the remaining ice “will not lead to additional flooding in Fort McMurray.”
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Mandatory evacuation orders remained in place Thursday morning for Draper, Waterways, Taiga Nova Industrial Park and the entire Lower Townsite of Fort McMurray. About 13,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
Officials with the RMWB said they are working on assessing the damage and initial assessments suggest about 1,230 structures are affected by the flood.
“We’re going to have a staged re-entry when it’s safe to do so, but we’re still at a stage where the ice isn’t broken yet.”
While a re-entry plan is being working on, it’s not known when residents will be allowed to go back home. Officials said the re-entry will be done in phases and more information will be released in the days ahead.
“The risk in areas under mandatory evacuation orders remains high as water can become electrically charged or ice can shift, causing further flooding and water and debris to begin moving very quickly,” Davis said.
“Members of the public travelling into these locations are putting themselves, first responders and others at risk of a serious incident. Access to the Lower Townsite is closed and vehicles parked on the side of Highway 63 will be towed. For your safety and the safety of others, please respect the closures and seriousness of this situation.”
Davis said officials are working with Alberta Health Services, public health officials and the RCMP to see which areas could be safely re-populated first. ATCO gas and electric is also involved, but Davis said the company has not yet turned services back on.
“We continue to assess damage and I can assure you residents and local business owners will be given access to their properties as soon as it is safe to do so,” he said.
“I have a team working around the clock, 24/7… planning on re-entry. We must remain safe.”
Davis said the re-entry plan would see business owners return first, before residents and they need to ensure food, equipment and supplies are ready for returning residents.
“It is important to remember that we still have flood water in these communities and our first priority is to protect the communities threatened by flooding,” Nixon stressed.
“Although residents may be anxious to return — and I do understand that — we need a number of conditions to be met in order for residents to return to their communities safely. Those conditions include flood water no longer being an imminent threat, the availability of critical infrastructure and essential services, and hazards in the area being secured.
“There is no question that the recovery process in this community will be lengthy.”
On Wednesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced emergency evacuation funding for all residents forced to flee due to flooding in northern Alberta. Starting at noon Monday, eligible residents can apply online for a one-time cash payment of $1,250 for adults and $500 for those under 18.
The mayor of the RMWB said he was thankful for the province’s ongoing support, and added he has asked for assistance from the federal government as well.
Scott said he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the phone on Wednesday night. The mayor said he made some very specific asks for support for evacuees.
“I’m always going to ask for money when I have the chance so we asked for money for evacuees,” Scott said.
They also spoke about future federal funding for flood mitigation and for the oil and gas industry. Scott said it was a “very positive conversation.”
“There were no commitments made by the prime minister but it was a very positive conversation,” he said.
“The flood that we experienced in this region was a one-in-100-year flood,” Scott continued.
“We have a plan for flood mitigation. We’ve already spent between $150 and $200 million, and there are plans to spend another $80 million to protect this region.”
Scott also noted the importance of residents protecting themselves while under evacuation orders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that public health protocols are being followed in evacuation camps and densely populated areas.
“All COVID measures that have been imposed must be enforced rigorously,” Scott said.
“We are a very safety-conscious region, so I believe that those camps are taking this very seriously and all COVID measures are in place.”
All evacuees are urged to register with the Red Cross, even if they are not in immediate need of support. Davis said registering will allow the Red Cross to contact evacuees with pertinent information and supports related to the evacuation, re-entry and recover processes.
Evacuees can register with the Red Cross by phoning 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
The RMWB is hosting a virtual town hall for residents who have been forced from their homes due to flooding in Fort McMurray.
Evacuees who wish to take part in Thursday’s town hall can dial in by calling 1-800-214-2540 or emailing townhall@rmwb.ca for instructions on how to connect. Residents can also watch the town hall live online.
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