Residents of central High River were able to return home on Wednesday, as the town continues to recover from flood damage.
The area west of 13th Street S.E. was reopened, completing the initial re-entry process for residences where flood water has receded.
More than half the town has returned home since the re-entry process started, and it’s expected another quarter will return with the reopening of central High River.
Of the properties in the central areas:
- 653 are classified as ‘green’;
little impact, can occupy. - 92 are classified as ‘yellow’;
minor impact, can occupy, requires cleanup, possible repairs. - 294 are classified as ‘orange’;
can’t immediately occupy. Damaged, requires repairs or renovations and inspections. - 159 are classified as ‘red’; red ranges from fully compromised electrical to severe structural damage, not safe to occupy or live in. Red may or may not indicate demolition.
Meanwhile, the Welcome Centre at the High River Agricultural Society rodeo grounds will continue to be the location where returning residents can stop before heading home.
They will receive an extensive information package containing a damage classification of their home, mental health and other social assistance supports available, key phone numbers, and advice for cleaning residential property.
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Officials are also looking for volunteers to help the residents of High River with flood cleanup.
A boil water advisory remains in effect, as does the provincial state of emergency.
High River Hospital
The High River Hospital will re-open as soon as it is safe for patients and staff to return to the facility.
Getting the emergency department up and running is the first priority, but there is significant cleanup and remediation that must take place first.
The nearest emergency department and urgent care centres are:
- Okotoks Urgent Care Centre, 11 Cimarron Common;
- Oilfields General Hospital in Black Diamond; and
- the South Health Campus, 4448 Front Street, Calgary.
There are eight mental health workers, three EMS teams and two community paramedics in the High River community. They are working from the welcome and reception centres as well as the fire hall. Staffing will be augmented as needed.
Return of firearms
RCMP have begun the process of returning firearms taken and secured during flooding in High River.
Government ID is required in order to have weapons returned, as well as a Possession Acquisition License (PAL.)
Should a resident not have a PAL on them, verification through the Canadian Police Information Centre Computer can confirm the existence of the document.
Should a gun owner not have a PAL, an alternative person, who is in possession of this document, can store the guns for them, or the resident can leave the guns secured at the RCMP Detachment while a PAL is applied for and obtained.
As there is no longer a requirement for long guns to be registered, a PAL is the only required document for the return of an unrestricted weapon.
The requirements for restricted weapons or prohibited weapons has been communicated to those residents specifically dealing with these weapons.
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