Director of Emergency Management, Ken McMullen with the City of Red Deer provided a live update this afternoon on the actions the City is taking in order to ensure that residents are safe during potential flood conditions.

As of the update, the City of Red Deer a flood warning is not in place for the area but a rainfall warning and a high stream advisory remains. The City is expecting between 80 and 50 millimeters of rain by Wednesday morning.

At this time McMullen says the City has taken the following actions to keep people safe:

  • Campers at Lions Campground have been evacuated and moved to Westerner Park
  • City is monitoring for potential impacts to critical infrastructure
  • Capstone fountain is closed
  • Outdoor pool at the Recreation Centre is closed
  • Bluegrass Sod Farm Central Spay park is closed
  • Sports fields and diamonds are closed

“We identified areas of greatest risk to our critical infrastructure that the city requires in order to maintain its own operations, electrical ways, et cetera to prepare for a potential increase of the water flow. In addition to that, we had crews that are preparing sandbags to protect that critical infrastructure. We have proactively identified areas within our community that are lowest lying that may see an impact to a rise in water that does primarily include our parks and pathways system right now,” said McMullen.

Photo of McMullen

McMullen says residents can prepare for the impacts of the heavy rainfall by taking the following actions:

  • Ensuring downspouts are out and working
  • Draining your rain barrel away from your home and regularly
  • Report any blocked catch basins to public works at (403)342-8238
  • Remove important documents or items from your basement
  • Ensure that your sump pump is working if you have one
  • Drive according to weather conditions
  • Avoid driving through pooled areas

McMullen says it remains very important that people stay off of the river.

“Not only is it a risk to our community and those individuals that are in the community. It puts a substantial risk to the first responders that have to then partake in that rescue we're trained to work in swift water, however it is not an easy feat to achieve as far as putting our members and our first responders at risk,” added McMullen.