Overland flooding in area results in other concerns
While southern Alberta crews continue the battle against overland flooding, officials have issued warnings about additional dangers.
Landowners who depend on cisterns and wells which have been flooded are being warned not to use the water — but to consider it contaminated. Owners are, meanwhile, being asked not to pump water off their land if it’s likely to affect their neighbours adversely.
The “local state of emergency” has been lifted in Lethbridge but remains in effect in the hard-hit M.D. of Taber.
In Taber, M.D. officials have given notice to anyone who moves or alters barricades placed to keep drivers out of danger. Police may lay charges, they point out.
“I don’t think there’s anyone here who has seen this kind of overland flooding,” says Derrick Krizsan, chief operating officer for the M.D. “We have about 100 roads closed.”
Apart from damaging homes, buildings and roadways, he points out the floods will mean a serious delay in spring planting.
“Specialty crops here are usually planted by May 1.”
Water levels have been dropping in the municipality’s southwest corner, Krizsan reports — good news for producers in the Barnwell and Cranford areas. But there’s still plenty of snow to melt in the M.D.’s northern areas — Hays, Enchant and Vauxhall — as well as east to Grassy Lake.
That could take three to seven days to melt. “It’s really quite variable.” And there are still ice jams in the St. Mary River Irrigation District’s main canal east of Taber, he adds.
As soon as conditions are dry enough — and the threat of more flooding has passed — Krizsan says the M.D. will be sending gravel trucks and graders to repair damaged roads.
Both the county and the MD are posting updated lists of road closures on their websites.
The M.D. has also issued a heavy load ban, restricting trucks to 75 per cent of their usual load on gravel routes to reduce damage to their water-softened road structure.
A mandatory evacuation order had been considered a possibility around Taber, but officials say that won’t likely be required. Some rural residents left their homes voluntarily, however.
In Lethbridge, county officials say the situation was improving Tuesday.
No new road closures were announced since 9 a.m. Tuesday and floodwaters were receding “in most areas of concern.”
Some county roads remain closed, however, and drivers are advised to use caution on roads that have been softened or are covered with water.
County officials also remind residents who have flood damage to document that damage with photos, dates and details for their insurance company.
Alberta Health Services also offers information for residents affected by floodwater, at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/alberta /pages/What-do-i-do-if-my-privatewater-well-has-flooded.aspx. Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter