The provincial government will hold an information session this evening (July 25) in Bragg Creek to provide residents displaced by flooding more answers on the government’s new flood rebuilding policies.
Darrell Winwood of Alberta’s flood recovery task force said many residents affected by the June floods still have questions about what the government’s new policies entail, and that each individual will be advised on a ‘case-by-case situation.’
Winwood said the information session would provide experts from the province’s disaster recovery program, as well as from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.
“We know flood victims have many questions following the announcement of our new flood rebuilding policies,” said Rick Fraser, associate minister of regional recovery and reconstruction for High River. “We are working hard to bring clarity to homeowners still dealing with this disaster.”
The provincial government’s new policies will no longer permit municipalities to approve future development in floodways. Future coverage for homeowners in a flood fringe will stipulate that those who do not implement mitigation measures to protect against a once-in-a-100-years flood will not be eligible for disaster recovery program assistance.
Floodways are located along the banks of waterways, while flood fringe is slightly further back.
The Town of Cochrane is also reviewing the province’s flood maps.
Areas such along the Bow River, Jumpingpound and Big Hill Creeks have been identified by the province as being in the floodway and fringe.
The new policy, announced July 14, gives flood victims living in floodways in affected communities the choice to have their home rebuilt using funding from the disaster recovery program or relocate. Those who choose to have their homes rebuilt in the floodway will not be covered under the program in the event of future floods, while residents within the flood fringe will receive future compensation for damages only if they rebuild with specific flood-proofing measures.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Doug Griffiths said that no eligible homeowner with flood damage would go without financial support, but that the province must empower those who make responsible decisions.
The provincial government will assist flood victims wanting to move out of flood-risk areas.
Land made available by residents moving out of flood-risk areas will be used for municipal flood mitigation infrastructure or for recreational use.
“There will obviously be significant and extensive questions concerning the implementation of these policy directions,” said Griffiths. “Our government has made good progress in flood-mapping municipalities most prone to flooding, and that work continues.”
The Wildrose Party released a statement July 19, calling for the provincial government to provide a new flood zone map and mitigation plan within the next 60 days for several communities, including Bragg Creek.
The Wildrose Party claims that many residents and businesses remain confused over which properties are designated as being in floodways and floodplains due to out of date flood zone maps.
“We should have been working on redrawing flood-zone maps including a flood mitigation infrastructure plan since flooding hit Southern Alberta almost one month ago,” said Wildrose leader and Highwood MLA Danielle Smith, “we simply cannot delay any longer.”
Cochrane mayor Truper McBride said the town was working with the province to ensure the mapping data is as current as possible, and that they were reviewing the proposed new policies.
The provincial government aims to clarify those questions with various information sessions, which, in addition to Bragg Creek, held in the area.
The Bragg Creek session will take place at the Bragg Creek Community Centre, and will run from 6-8 p.m.
To review the province’s flood area map visit envinfo.gov.ab.ca/FloodHazard.
