While the Department of Aboriginal Affairs signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) Dec. 18 with the three Chiefs of the Stoney Nation, committing to cover the expenses for flood recovery on the Nation for an estimated amount of $98 million, the tally of damages is still under assessment.
The Nation has contracted NOR-EX Ice Engineering Inc. to oversee the project from start to finish; Morley is comprised of three Stoney bands – Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley.
Mark Godefroy is NOR-EX’s senior project manager, acting as the Nation’s lead for flood recovery, brought in to oversee the project from its planning and strategic development phase through the completion of repair and rebuild.
The entire rebuild and repair from the flood is anticipated to span across two construction seasons, with an intended project completion by fall of 2015.
“We still don’t have the total number of flood-impacted homes,” said Godefroy, a retired senior Canadian Army Officer, who served for 28 years with the military.
“The only way we can accurately determine how many flood-affected homes there are is by individually assessing every home…those assessments are not hampering the construction and flood repair work that is currently being done.”
Initially brought in to provide advisory services and to structure a flood recovery plan, NOR-EX will continue on — acting on behalf of the Nation to oversee the entire process on all three Stoney communities: Morley, Eden Valley and Big Horn.
The damaged homes are estimated at 400-450 in Morley, more than 60 in Eden Valley and Big Horn is still to be estimated; the majority of the flooding was overland (resulting from over 300 mm of rain in 24 hours).
“They have 46 homes in Big Horn and we’re still determining the damages there. Big Horn is situated on the Big Horn River, where there was a quarter-kilometre of erosion to the roadways in (the community).”
In the interim, three well-site camps are being set up by Outland Camps for each Stoney band; the Wesley camp is at Wesley Park (along Highway 1A); the Bearspaw and Chiniki camps are being set up on the south side of Morley.
The Wesley band members began moving into their camp at the end of January; the camps for Bearspaw and Chiniki are not yet complete – Nation members from these two bands are anticipated to begin moving into these camps within a few weeks.
Each of the well-site camps has their own dining halls, where hot meals are prepared for the residents, as the units are only furnished with a microwave for cooking.
These camps also provide opportunities for employment for Nation members, including positions as kitchen, janitorial, maintenance, security and cultural liaison staff.
Godefroy explained that the Nation is looking at more opportunity for capacity building for the Eden Valley rebuild, which would include modular homes (rather than well-site units) with adequate cooking facilities; this long-term solution would appear to be more cost-effective.
The assessment of all damages to flood-affected homes is slated for completion by mid-May; the project will move into its second phase next week: the repair, followed by the rebuild of the homes.
“The government is committed to repairing those damages attributed to the 2013 flood,” said Godefroy, who was careful to explain that while the government would cover the costs of all damages resulting from the crisis (to meet Alberta Building Code) this would not include paying for pre-existing damages in the homes that can not be attributed to the flood.
The first phase of the project ran from August through mid-November 2013, which included ensuring homes were ‘warm, safe and dry’; all flood-damaged drywall and hazardous materials were removed from homes and mechanical and electrical repairs were completed (furnace and hot heaters).
Clark Builders is the contract manager as agent for the province, responsible for hiring a variety of sub trades and ensuring construction meets Alberta Building Code.
Godefroy said the Nation is also looking at more capacity-building employment opportunities, including apprenticeship and employment programs.
