Province pledges flood relief
Alberta budget takes a hit Thousands of Calgarians return home Houses await inspection Pre-loaded debit cards will be provided for displaced residents
CALGARY — Premier Alison Redford pledged Monday the government will foot the bill for rebuilding destroyed homes across Alberta, opening its chequebook — to the tune of $1 billion — in response to the biggest flood in provincial history.
Following an emergency meeting of the provincial Treasury Board, Redford said more dollars would be certain to follow.
In a press conference overlooking the fast-flowing Bow River, the premier announced the province will initially provide pre-loaded debit cards to help displaced residents pay for their immediate needs.
The government will also ensure money for repair and reconstruction of damaged homes would begin to flow within 10 days to two weeks.
In an interview with the Herald, Redford vowed the province intends to cover the full uninsured cost of reconstruction through its disaster recovery programs.
“We are going to do whatever it takes, in terms of paying to rebuild — to rebuild homes, to rebuild families and communities,” she said. “The world changed on Thursday and we’re going to deal with it.”
The news came as thousands of Calgarians began to return home following last week’s sudden flooding and they face the daunting task of cleanup operations.
However, thousands of other Albertans are still under evacuation orders and many houses across the province must now be inspected for water damage.
The crisis is far from over in many areas: nine emergency operations centres remain open across the province and 24 communities remain under a local state of emergency.
Southwest of Calgary, residents of the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the neighbouring town of Redwood Meadows continue to be at risk as flood waters put pressure on a berm protecting the communities.
East of Calgary, more than 1,000 people on the Siksika Nation are out of their homes.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt issued a statement Monday saying the government would support First Nations affected by the flooding.
He said his department is in touch with aboriginal leaders to ensure that the communities’ immediate health and safety needs are being met.
While Calgary recovered, only a small number of 10,000 evacuees in Medicine Hat were allowed back, even though the South Saskatchewan River crested Monday morning.
Officials say the rest won’t be allowed back until their homes are inspected, and if they are flooded, it will be even longer.
Water that had submerged streets and surrounded homes and businesses was receding. But Ron Robinson, director of emergency measures, warned that barriers continued to be “bombarded” by the high and fast-moving river.
“The structural integrity of our berms is at issue and we require vigilant monitoring,” he said. “This is why there is an urgent need for people to be safe.”
About 1,000 homes were hit by high water. About 1,500 people were registered at the city’s emergency centre and accommodation had been provided for about 600.
Medicine Hat officials have said this flood appears to be worse than the “flood of the century” in 1995. Finkelman said it’s the fourth flood in the area in 20 years.
The deluge, while serious, was not as bad as had originally been feared after the devastation in Calgary and other communities upstream. Water managed to top sandbag barriers in some areas of the city and there was flooding in some neighbourhoods, but other defences remained dry.
People in High River, the community hardest hit by the flooding, didn’t have much reason for optimism. There was still no timeline for when 13,000 evacuees would be able to return.
Police said one drunken man brandished a knife did try to get past officers at a High River security checkpoint.
RCMP said the 24-year-old man demanded that he be allowed to return to his property. He was arrested and charges were pending.
Several High River residents forced from their homes last week welcomed the government’s $1-billion commitment.
Jerry and Deborah Huisman had been told by a neighbour that flood waters had reached almost two metres at their house, leaving the roof of their pickup truck barely visible.
Without insurance for overland flooding, the couple feared they had lost everything and would have to start from scratch.
“It’s 40 years of work to get this,” said the 61-year-old Jerry, who noted he had planned to retire next year. “That’s not going to happen.”
The current outlay is to come from the province’s $2.7-billion contingency fund, which even before the flooding was expected to be drained below $700 million by next spring.
One piece of good news for the province is the federal government will likely end up repaying part of the provincial outlay.
Federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney said the province develops disaster assistance programs, pays for it and then forwards bills to Ottawa for reimbursement.
“The federal government will be there in a very significant way,” he said.