Five years since 2013 flood

By Gillian Slade on June 22, 2018.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com  @MHNGillianSlade

Five years have past since the 2013 flood that temporarily displaced 8,000 people and affected 2,845 properties, evoking memories, images and emotional reactions for all involved.

“Finlay Bridge always — the water just about touching the bottom of it,” recalls Mayor Ted Clugston, who was a councillor at the time. “And the other vision that always comes to mind is the backhoes on Maple Avenue Bridge … trying to knock away the debris.”

Arleen Groth, whose home on Bridge Street was flooded and ultimately demolished, approaches this season with trepidation every year now.

Ultimately through the provincial Disaster Recovery Program she was able to build a replacement home on the same site. However, the two-and-a-half year process to reach that point was quite stressful.

“It was devastating. There is no other word to describe it,” said Groth. “It was horrifying. It was like, ‘Where do I go now, what do I do?’ I didn’t start settling into my house until 2015.”

RELATED: A timeline of how it all happened

Prior to residents in flood prone areas even being told to evacuate on that Friday five years ago, the city was facing the possibility of having to close bridges across the South Saskatchewan River.

It meant ensuring there were fire engines and ambulances on the north side of the city and an emergency hospital at the Family Leisure Centre, said Clugston. There were also preparations in case the Trans-Canada Highway bridge over the river collapsed.

“I remember saying if that bridge goes, it could take out Finlay and CP Rail and Maple (Avenue),” he said.

Protecting infrastructure such as the power plant and water treatment plant with a temporary berm was a priority. Even then there were some leaks, and water had to be pumped out. Clugston says it came closer than most people think but in the end the lights didn’t flicker and there wasn’t even a boil water order.

VIDEO: Aerial footage from June 23, near the peak of the flood

As advisories of the river level increased, it was determined the Medicine Hat Police Service building would flood on the lower level.

“That somehow we managed to move an entire police service to the southwest industrial area was pretty incredible,” remembers Insp. Joe West.

This included relocating the 911 service, acquiring some generators, moving hard copy files from the basement to a higher floor and carrying out normal police duties at the same time.

MHPS and the fire service also partnered with building inspectors and public health staff to get through all evacuated areas to assist people who were distraught in the process of leaving their homes.

The Maple Avenue fire station had to be moved to a temporary location on the north side of the river, said fire chief Brian Stauth. That included all the equipment firefighters would need, as well as rearranging platoons so those living in the north worked up there in case it was no longer possible to cross the river. In the end, emergency vehicles were allowed to continue crossing the bridges.

The 2013 flood was the impetus to get the berms built for future protection.

“That was the first council that had the courage to make that decision to build berms without the province’s backing at the time,” said Clugston, noting there was no public backlash because those affected were aware of the need.

As a result of those measures there is considerably less anxiety each spring over the possibility of flooding. Medicine Hat generally gets about 48-hours notice of a possible flood, as it often starts with the Elbow and Bow Rivers.

“If we were to get notice today, there’s a few sections to put up temporary berms, but I have absolute confidence we would be able to handle something like 2013 a lot easier …,” said Clugston.

To date, about $26 million has been spent on flood mitigation measures, with two more contracts recently awarded that will bring that total closer to $30 million. So far the federal and provincial governments have contributed about $26 million, some of which is for future protects.

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