Alberta Floods - 2013

Mon, 2013-06-24 13:26

NorthReport

It's tragic, espeecially for the people of Alberta, that climate-change deniers have so much power in Canada which unfortunately helps to contribute to situations like this. This should be a wake-up call for all Canadians to rid ourselves of these anti-science nutbars that the right-wing parties cater to. Where is the governemnt accountability? In the aftermath leaders should be resigning over this.

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Calgary's Manhattan Moment

I only hope my city's nightmare is the climate change wake-up Alberta, and Canada, needs.

My city, a vibrant place that often transcends the province's narcissistic oil culture, has had a Manhattan moment.

We thought we were big and powerful and beyond humbling just like New York. But as every true cowboy knows, Mother Nature invariably has the last word.

And so Calgarians are now living a chronicle foretold by climate scientists.

Many once worked at federal agencies that the nation's federal government ruthlessly axed in an ideological assault on science and reason.

My friends and neighbours have also experienced another extreme weather event that Insurance Bureau of Canada reported a year ago, "will likely result in continued flood risk throughout Alberta."

Alberta, always a geography of maximum weather, is now climate change central in Canada due to exponential growth in human communities and all in the path of increasing floods, droughts, fires and hail storms.

Bad weather once racked up $100 million worth of damages every year about a decade ago. Today unpredictable events now create half a billion dollars in disasters almost every year.

Yet most Albertans still can't believe the scale of the multi-billion disaster that has dampened Calgary and environs because affluence tends to dull the senses.

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Stunned?

So here's what happened in the semi-arid Bow River basin (four per cent of Alberta) and it was largely predicted by climate scientists and water experts: An "extreme" weather event fell upon us like some Texas belly washer, and left tens of thousands homeless. Damage will total in the billions.

The speed and scale of the event "stunned" Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a climate change skeptic, and it mortified Premier Alison Redford, whose deficit plagued government hasn't budgeted for disasters, let alone the future. (One 2011 report catalogued Alberta's reticence on the issue this way: "Leadership on climate change adaptation from senior levels in all departments is weak.")

The Great Flood, which punched a giant hole in the TransCanada Highway in Canmore, swelled rivers and undermined infrastructure built for, well, a more stable and reliable climate. The flood also exposed some market-driven deceptions about geography and basic hydrology.

It seems that flood plains will fill with water in oil-rich Alberta, a truth most might find evident but one the province's one-party government has tried to conceal from the public for years.

A 2006 Provincial Flood Mitigation Report even recommended that the province forbid the selling of flood plains to developers. But the one-party state deep sixed the report for five years and not make it public until 2012.

The freak storm, partly the product of the energy of spend carbon emissions, washed away landmarks, towns, homes, memories, roads, pipelines, wells and bridges. It broke precipitation and stream flow records.

First came scattered rainfall, which saturated the ground in the foothills. Then the skies greyed like a sick man with cancer. The air, redolent of water, hung with a heavy menace.

When the skies opened they delivered buckets of rain that seemed oddly tropical in their intensity.

Along the foothills 80 to 340 millimetres of water fell in a 24-hour period. Calgary alone broke a record and received 45 mm in a day.

Alberta's sprawling cities suddenly rediscovered that mountain water moves downhill as fast as torrents ripped through Canmore and Bragg Creek first.

And then the Bow and Elbow rivers swelled, spilling their banks with three times more water than the so-called landmark flood of 2005. (Climate change seems to be all about scoring Olympic records in global weather.)

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/06/24/Calgary-Floods-Climate-Change/

Mon, 2013-06-24 20:12

#3

NorthReport

Fire these incompetent politicians who did not heed the global-warming warnings. Who are they?

Alberta flood recovery could take 10 years, $1B, says premier Calgary homes outside downtown, 1 block in Inglewood, ready for families to return

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/06/24/calgary-flooding-...

Mon, 2013-06-24 23:15

#4

NorthReport

Alberta shelved major flood report for six years

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/recommendations-from-2005-a...

Mon, 2013-06-24 23:45

#5

NorthReport

Floodwaters devastate First Nations communities in Alberta

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/06/23/calgary-first-nat...

Tue, 2013-06-25 00:57

#6

NorthReport

I suppose this is what happens when you shrink the size of government

Satellite data hinted at Alberta floods weeks ago

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/satellite-data-hinted-at-al...

Tue, 2013-06-25 10:58

#7

kropotkin1951

While I feel sorry for all the people who have lost their homes and belongings there is a certain delicious irony in this climate change event flooding the oil and gas towers in Calgary. Mother nature has given the tar sands executives and their minions who are playing an ever increasing role in the environmental destruction of the planet a time out for bad behaviour.

Tue, 2013-06-25 11:38

#8

NDPP

Harper's Military Jacket A Tribute To The Troops, Spokesperson Says

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/24-harper-military-jacket-alberta-t...

"...In fact a photo of Harper staring out the window of his chopper was strikingly similar to an infamous shot of former US President George Bush surveying the damage Hurricane Katrina inflicted on New Orleans in 2005.

One could say he looked downright presidential."

Tue, 2013-06-25 11:50

#9

kropotkin1951

I had to refer to this story given Harper's military garb. Its a good thing it wasn't a navy uniform he would have had to write for permission. Or is it only veterans who can't wear uniforms without permission. If I go out and buy a replica air force or navy uniform can I wear it in public?

Quote:

Navy veterans will not be able to wear their uniforms at memorials and special events after the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa issued a new nationwide standing order last week.

According to the order, all former service people in the Royal Canadian Navy must request permission in writing before wearing their uniforms at any event, including parades, war memorial celebrations and other formal functions.

“Permission for former service members to wear uniforms is limited and revocable,” according to the five-page order dated June 13 obtained by the Star.

“Requests by former RCN service members to wear uniforms, including mess dress, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such approval shall be limited to exceptional circumstances where the wearing of the uniform is necessary and will favourably contribute to the RCN.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/06/20/royal_canadian_navy_vets_c...

Tue, 2013-06-25 22:34

#10

NorthReport

Go figure.

Global warming and the future of urban living

http://www.straight.com/news/394606/global-warming-and-future-urban-living

Wed, 2013-06-26 01:37

#11

NorthReport

As floodwaters rose, Calgary mayor made his mark

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABRE95P07C20130626?pageNum...

Thu, 2013-06-27 09:57

#12

NorthReport

Calgary bridge with derailed train 'continues to drop

'Train on bridge over Bow River may be carrying diesel fuel, official says

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/story/2013/06/27/calgary-flood-tra...

Thu, 2013-06-27 13:15

#13

quizzical

i loved mayor Nenshi's comment yesterday 'bout those people tring to gouge flood victims for waste disposal when the province has waived all waste disposal fees.

he said serenly and nicely: "its naughty don't do it"!!!! there was no mistaking he will tackle them if they continue to do it.

Thu, 2013-06-27 14:34

#14

bagkitty

@quizzical - yes, something Nenshi has proved quite capable of - I still smile when I remember how he cut Chief of Police Rick Hanson down to size during the last election. Nenshi is an excellent example of how to stand up to bullies, walk softly and carry all the facts with you.

Fri, 2013-06-28 14:55

#15

quizzical

he's most definitely throughout this whole ordeal has shown he has or will get ALL the facts. what a refreshing mayor!!!!!!

eta i tell ya after thinking 'bout how the rob ford thread goes on and on and on and there seems no end in sight and yet we have no Nenshi thread showing other politicians who read here what a good politician is. there's plenty of negative how not to be but no how to be! i say we need a Nenshi thread or thread lumping good examples showing how we want our elected officials to behave and be.

Sun, 2013-06-30 18:49

#16

NorthReport

Authorities 'Caught Flatfooted' on Alberta Flood Disaster: Expert

Hydrologist finds prediction efforts crippled by poor monitoring systems.

http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/06/26/Alberta-Flood-Disaster/

Thu, 2021-10-07 20:34

#17

PrairieDemocrat15

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Tue, 2013-07-02 11:12

#18

kropotkin1951

So people who cannot even store their weapons according to our lax gun laws are upset. If it was up to me I would be hauling their asses into court to fine them and restrict their rights to own weapons because they have proven to not be able to follow the basic safety precautions that have been legislated. Gun ownership is a not a right in this country and if you can't follow the rules then you don't get to won one.

Tue, 2013-07-02 21:37

#19

Hurtin Albertan

At this point there are more questions than answers regarding the RCMP seizure/confiscation/temporary custodial care of firearms from High River. I'll post more in the big gun topic.

Very possible that many of these guns were properly stored in a gun safe in a basement, and their owners moved them upstairs before leaving. In which case it seems a little much to nail the owners with unsafe storage charges for trying to save some of their property from the flood waters.

Also very possible that many of the guns seized/confiscated/what have you were indeed properly and legally stored but were taken anyways due to an incomplete knowledge on the part of the RCMP officers involved. I have heard second hand accounts on other forums of how guns were cable locked onto a gun rack (which if done correctly completely meets the letter of the law in regards to safe storage) but nonetheless the cable locks were cut and the guns taken away. Also have heard stories of how guns were taken out of their gun cases from inside closets, which would seem to me to indicate that it wasn't just "guns left out in the open" that were the target of the gun seizure, although in fairness I should point out that a rifle or shotgun in an unlocked gun case in a closet does not meet the safe storage requirements unless other measures have been taken as well. I do wonder why, if these warrantless but "legal" searches were being done in the name of searching for trapped residents, the police would take the time to go rooting about under beds or in closets as while those may be likely spots to find guns they are probably not very likely spots to find trapped residents in need of assistance or evacuation.

At this point though it all seems to be second hand stories and a lot of conflicting information. First it was said to be in the interest of public safety, which seems an odd consideration considering there wasn`t much of a public presence in High River after the state of local emergency was declared and the mandatory evacuations begun. But hey, those friendly and caring police officers took the time out of their busy day to safeguard some valuable guns so I guess I can`t be too mad at them.

I suspect once all the residents are finally allowed to return home, and all the gun owners finally get their guns back, that there will be several cases in which the guns were in fact legally stored but were seized anyways. Non-restricted firearms do not need to be locked up in a gun safe to be safely stored according to the law.

I am very curious as to why the guns were taken in the first place. It seems this was only done in High River. I am also very curious to see if the homes of gun owners were searched differently than those of non-gun-owners.

In the end though, aside from this being yet another public relations disaster for the RCMP, I am afraid that this will have the unfortunate side effect of causing more people in the future to defy the call for mandatory evacuation, which may very well put themselves and others at greater risk in a future disaster scenario.

Several of my co-workers are currently working in High River, I expect they will have some interesting stories about their time down there. I almost got to go to Calgary earlier on in the flood but they picked someone else to go instead.

Anyways if you are interested in learning more about safe storage of non-restricted firearms, or if you are interested in hearing me bloviate on at great length about gun stuff, you can always head on over to the gun topic.

Wed, 2013-07-03 02:44

#20

kropotkin1951

If the gun were stored properly then they shouldn't have been taken. Speculation is pointless but if the RCMP had a proper reason for taking the guns it was because they were not stored properly. If not then let the legal games begin.