One day after flood watches were issued Monday by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resourses Canada, the counties of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have declared a state of emergency and are preparing for the rising waters. The city of Lethbridge has not declared a state of local emergency at this time.
Both counties are taking precautions and have set up emergency operations centres. They are watching the situation closely and expecting the river to peak sometime Wednesday or Thursday.
In Lethbridge, the river valley has been closed and there has been water spotted pooling on some low lying roads. There have already been a number of reports of basement seepage and flooding from residents in lower areas.
As of Wednesday morning, Lethbridge officials are considering commencing with sandbagging the water treatment plant and other areas of the city. They are asking for volunteers to be ready to help out Wednesday.
Residents in both counties have been asked to limit water consumption duiring this time as sanitary systems are at high capacity due to the high water levels.
More Information
For the most up to date information on what is happening you can check the Lethbridge and Medicine hat Twitter feeds and websites:
- City of Lethbridge Twitter Feed
- City of Medicine Hat Twitter Feed
- Lethbridge Flood Provention
- Medicine Hat River Watch Information
Medicine Hat Flood Information Line: 403-525-8600 8am to Midnight
Lethbridge Emergency Public Operations line: 403-320-3850
If You Have a Claim
If your home has been damaged, you can contact your broker or insurance company with information regarding your claim. Please click here for a listing of Emergency Claims numbers.
