In late June, heavy rainfall and subsequent floods caused approximately $2.1 million in damages to Canmore. Fortunately, the municipality is expected to receive significant financial assistance through the Alberta government’s Hazard Assistance and Resilience Program. This provincial grant could cover up to $1.9 million of the total costs, with the remaining amount being covered by municipal reserves.
The extreme weather event, categorized as a once-in-50-year flood, resulted in Canmore experiencing around 138 millimetres of rainfall within a 24-hour period on June 28 and 29. This led to damage to various municipal infrastructure, with emergency response costs totaling approximately $232,000 according to a staff report.
Mayor Sean Krausert expressed gratitude for the program, highlighting that it alleviates the burden on local taxpayers. He emphasized that communities are not equipped to handle such emergency costs independently, especially in the case of recurring or major events.
The damages included warping of concrete matting along Cougar Creek’s banks, washout of gravel roads leading to the dam, and debris accumulation behind the dam, necessitating road reconstruction for removal by excavators.
Caitlin Miller, the municipality’s manager of protective services and director of emergency management, mentioned that they closely monitor potential hazards like flooding, rainfall, and fires. She noted the rapid deterioration of conditions at Cougar and Stoneworks creeks northeast of the town, leading to a state of local emergency declaration, evacuation alerts, and one home evacuation.
Miller emphasized the importance of adapting decisions based on current circumstances, acknowledging that each weather event can present unique challenges that may deviate from initial plans.
The recent heavy rainfall and flooding served as the first real test of the Cougar Creek dam, which successfully trapped an estimated 5,000 cubic metres of sediment and fallen trees. Miller credited the dam with mitigating the event’s impact, preventing a more severe outcome compared to the 2013 floods that caused significant damage due to debris flow into the townsite.
Zabrina Pendon, Canmore’s manager of engineering, praised the dam’s performance, stating that it functioned as intended by the engineers. While awaiting provincial approval for the costs, Pendon expressed confidence in a positive outcome following collaborative discussions with the province.