2013 Alberta floods

2013 Alberta floods
The Downtown East Village neighbourhood of Calgary, Alberta, during the 2013 Alberta floods (June 21, 2013)
DateJune 19 – July 12, 2013
LocationSouthern and central Alberta:[1][2]
Communities
Banff, M.D. of Bighorn No. 8 (Benchlands, Dead Man's Flats, Exshaw, Harvie Heights and Lac des Arcs), Black Diamond, Calgary, Canmore, Cochrane, Crowsnest Pass, Cypress County, Devon, Drumheller, M.D. of Foothills No. 31, Fort Macleod, High River, Kananaskis I.D., Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Medicine Hat, Mountain View County, M.D. of Pincher Creek No. 9, M.D. of Ranchland No. 66, Okotoks, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Redcliff, Redwood Meadows, Rocky View County (Bragg Creek), Siksika Nation, Stoney Nation (Morley), Sundre, Tsuu T'ina Nation, Turner Valley, Vulcan County and M.D. of Willow Creek No. 26
Deaths5[3]
Property damage$5 billion (Estimated)
($6.39 billion in 2023 dollars[4])

In the days leading up to June 19, 2013, parts of southern and central Alberta, Canada experienced heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding described by the provincial government as the worst in Alberta's history. Areas along the Bow, Elbow, Highwood, Red Deer, Sheep, Little Bow, and South Saskatchewan rivers and their tributaries were particularly affected. A total of 32 states of local emergency were declared[5] and 28 emergency operations centres were activated[6] as water levels rose and numerous communities were placed under evacuation orders.[7]

Five people were confirmed dead as a direct result of the flooding and over 100,000 people were displaced throughout the region. Some 2,200 Canadian Forces (CF) troops were deployed to help in flooded areas in addition to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Alberta Sheriffs Branch response. Total damage estimates exceeded C$5 billion and in terms of insurable damages, made the 2013 Alberta floods the costliest disaster in Canadian history at $1.7 billion, until the occurrence of the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Receding waters gave way to a mammoth cleanup of affected areas, aided by a spontaneous volunteer campaign in which many homeowners were assisted by complete strangers.

  1. ^ "Affected Communities". Government of Alberta. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference PCEcho was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "The flood's tragic toll: Remembering the five lives lost". Calgary Herald. June 14, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020.
  4. ^ 1688 to 1923: Geloso, Vincent, A Price Index for Canada, 1688 to 1850 (December 6, 2016). Afterwards, Canadian inflation numbers based on Statistics Canada tables 18-10-0005-01 (formerly CANSIM 326-0021) "Consumer Price Index, annual average, not seasonally adjusted". Statistics Canada. Retrieved April 17, 2021. and table 18-10-0004-13 "Consumer Price Index by product group, monthly, percentage change, not seasonally adjusted, Canada, provinces, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit". Statistics Canada. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "2013 Alberta Flood Recovery: Your Community". Government of Alberta. July 13, 2013. Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  6. ^ "Update 5: Government continues to respond to flooding emergency". Government of Alberta. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  7. ^ Wood, James (June 22, 2013). "Harper, Redford promise to help". Calgary Herald. p. A5.