Flood information session in Lethbridge

Questions are swirling across southern Alberta following the widespread flooding in June.

The government of Alberta is hoping to answer some of those questions in an information session for people affected by the flood.

“Anyone who has property that has been impacted by the flooding or anyone that has a concern about the future developments around flood areas, even if they didn’t get flooded this time, could attend and get some really good information about mitigation and plans going forward,” says Lethbridge West MLA Greg Weadick.

The province has mapped out areas they say are floodways and flood fringe areas but for community officials in Fort Macleod, the map is leaving them with even more questions.

“We have photos of the 1995 flood, and I’m looking at the mapping they sent out and comparing it, there are areas that were under water that aren’t covered in the mapping”, says Chief Executive Officer for the Town of Fort Macleod, David Connauton.

Town officials say the flood mapping doesn’t affect any businesses or major subdivisions but it will have an impact on some homes along the river

“We have 40 residents in the flood zone and in the fringe area,” says Connauton.

According to the Disaster Recovery Program, flood victims living in flood ways will have a choice to relocate or rebuild.

But residents who rebuild inside floodways will not be covered by this program in the event of a future flood.

Residents in flood fringe areas will have to follow strict guidelines, or they too will not be covered in the next flood.

“We are going to talk about things like sealing your basement, back flow, sealing around windows and pipes and using water proof and water-resistant materials in basements,” says Weadick.

For communities like Fort Macleod, the provincial guidelines will change how each municipality looks at new building areas, and some say making it uniform across the board might be the best way.

“Are going to allow further development, aren’t we? Right now each M.D is dealing with that on their own. People apply for subdivisions and if we say no, then they have a right to appeal.  We’d like to see some of that regulated at the provincial level,” says Connauton.

The sessions will be geared to more technical questions, with several government staff on hand, but officials say it’s important to be patient as the province works through possibilities.

The session begins at 7:00pm at the Coast Hotel.

If you are not able to attend you can visit www.alberta.ca or call 403-310-4455.

You can view the Flood Map at