Alert system aims to keep construction debris at bay
Wednesday’s wild weather proved an appropriate backdrop for the unveiling of a one-of-a-kind warning system aimed at reducing windborne hazards in the downtown core.
With an intense low pressure system bringing high winds, rain and snow throughout much of the province Wednesday, the city held a press conference to speak about a specialized system that provides contractors in the downtown and Beltline with advanced notice so construction materials can be secured before strong winds hit.
Cliff De Jong, senior special projects officer with Calgary Building Services, told reporters the system would send construction contractors height- and site-specific information regarding how predicted wind gusts will impact their projects and advanced notification of heavy wind conditions through email alerts.
“The contractors in the City of Calgary have had some indication that there was an impending weather change over the last 24 hours,” De Jong said, explaining the effects of high winds vary drastically depending on both the height and the type of materials stored on site.
“You can start to expect things to start becoming dislodged if they’re not properly fastened at about 70 km/h,” he said.
Winds easily exceeded that mark Wednesday as Environment Canada recorded gusts at the airport as high as 85 km/h.
Enmax crews spent Wednesday evening responding to sporadic wind-related power outages across the city. Several thousand customers spent part of the evening without power until service was restored.