Flood risk continues in southern Alberta, Saskatchewan

Sunnier skies have moved in over Alberta today, and residents of some communities earliest hit by the flooding — such as Canmore, Bragg Creek, Turner Valley and roughly 65,000 people from neighbourhoods in Calgary as well — are now allowed to return to their homes as waters begin to recede. However, as things begin to dry out in those areas, some regions are still under water, while others still ahead of the flooding, such as Medicine Hat, are prepping for the worst.

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While the City of Calgary remains under a state of emergency, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi announced today that around 65,000 evacuees were being allowed back home due to waters along the Bow and Elbow Rivers receding. The city has named the following neighbourhoods as ones that are still closed to residents: Roxboro, Inglewood, Bowness, Bridgeland, Chinatown, East Village, Elbow Park, Rideau, Erlton, Mission, Stanley Park Elboya, and parts of downtown. However, those returning are asked to take caution and to leave again immediately if they find any unsafe conditions.

Further to the south, waters are still on the rise in Medicine Hat today, as flood waters from the Bow River and Oldman River dump into the South Saskatchewan River, which runs right through the city. Roughly 10,000 residents in those neighbourhoods under the worst risk of flooding received evacuation notices, but reports on Saturday showed that nearly 70 per cent chose to ignore the notice and stay, prompting a request from Alberta Premier Alison Redford for them to heed the warnings and leave.

"I would ask people that are being asked to evacuate, please evacuate," she said to reporters in Medicine Hat. "I know that when we look at the sky and the sun is shining it's sometimes a bit difficult to imagine what can come, but it's so much easier for the first responders if they're actually able to deal in a community knowing exactly who is there and who isn't there."

Expectations are that the already swollen river will crest sometime on Monday, and authorities and volunteers spent much of the day Saturday laying down sandbags in order to give the city as much protection from the rising waters as possible.

As this water works its way through Medicine Hat, communities along the river in Saskatchewan are also preparing, and Cumberland House and Cumberland House First Nation have already been evacuated. Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency is monitoring the flows in both the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers, to give communities ample warning of any danger headed their way.

Back in Alberta, the community of High River, which was completely evacuated on Thursday as the Highwood River overflowed its banks, is still under water. All residents are being warned to stay away, as the town is still considered unsafe, and even patrols through the streets are having to take extra caution due to the effects of the flood waters.

"We are taking a different route today, because the road we used yesterday has turned into a sinkhole," Joan Botkin, the town’s public information officer, told the Calgary Herald. "We have to be very careful about letting anyone in — we don’t know what’s under all this water."

The Siksika First Nation, to the east of Calgary, is in a similar situation, with over 1,000 people evacuated from their homes as the Bow River overflowed its banks, putting the entire community under water.

"I've never seen anything like this in my life," said Siksika Nation Chief Fred Rabbit Carrier, according to the Edmonton Journal. "It’s very stressful. The worst I've ever seen, it's devastating."

[ More Geekquinox: How weather, geography made Alberta a prime target for flooding ]

The crisis in Alberta certainly isn't over yet, and with all the water gathering in the South Saskatchewan River, and flowing along the North Saskatchewan River as well, the emergency may shift eastward over the next couple of days, those returning to their homes in Alberta are likely in for a long recovery.

According to the Globe and Mail, Calgary Emergency Management Agency director Bruce Burrell said that restoring power in the city's downtown core may take anywhere from days to months, but they will know more once they can inspect the damage. Also, with water damage to many homes and businesses, it could be a very long clean-up effort in the province. A guide to returning home was published online by the City of Calgary, and Alberta Health Services has similar information on their website.

(Images courtesy: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press, The Siksika Nation)

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