Fort Mcmurray begins reopening as others in region flee flooding
FORT MCMURRAY As Alberta braces for more evacuations and flood warnings in parts of northeastern Alberta, water levels have dropped far enough that parts of Fort Mcmurray are reopening to the public.
Environment Minister Jason Nixon says the province is working on plans to help out in the aftermath of the floods.
“As we begin a lengthy recovery process, I want to assure everyone who has had their homes or businesses damaged in these floods that there is assistance coming,” said Nixon.
“Disaster recovery programs are intended for exactly this type of situation.”
In Fort Mcmurray, the Athabasca River ice jam has shrunk to roughly nine kilometres. When the city flooded Sunday morning, the jam was 25 kilometres long.
Water levels have dropped by 7.6 metres on the Athabasca River. On the Clearwater River, levels are expected to fluctuate as ice slowly moves downstream. However, the river has dropped between one and 1.5 metres and the province is not anticipating additional flooding in the area.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is now allowing residents and business owners back into sections of downtown Fort Mcmurray.
Some properties that were untouched by flood waters may not be suitable to live in just yet, though. Storm or sewage blockages could have damaged homes that remained dry, and utilities have not returned to the area.
An estimated 1,230 buildings have been damaged by flooding and up to 13,000 people had to leave their homes.
A plan for permanent re-entry is still being developed.
Mayor Don Scott says some people will not be able to return home for at least a week, which Nixon called “a completely reasonable assessment.”
“Everyone is working as much as they can to get people back in their homes and we’re really pleased with the progress we made today,” said Scott. “I’m expecting we’re going to make a lot more progress in the hours to come as well.”
Other parts of northern Alberta are still dealing with high river levels.
Nixon says multiple ice jams on the Peace River have combined and are now 44 kilometres long. This has forced 560 residents of Garden River, 190 kilometres east of High Level, to leave their homes.
At least 400 of those people need shelter and food.
Nixon says they are camping, but the provincial operations centre is working on getting support to the area. The community of Fox Lake is also preparing to evacuate. The Little Red River Cree First Nation is under a state of local emergency and is threatened by the jam.
Nixon says this means up to 6,000 people in the region could need help soon.
Meanwhile, the flood waters in Fort Vermilion and Beaver Ranch have fallen to pre-breakup levels.