Calgary floods: What you need to know now
Several of Calgary's main commuter roads are closed following a train derailment on Bonnybrook Bridge early Thursday morning.
An area roughly one kilometre around the area has been evacuated and several road closures are in effect, say officials.
Deerfoot Trail and Ogden Road are closed but are expected to re-open in time for rush hour.
The city has been conducting stability checks for pedestrian and traffic bridges around Calgary since the flood.
Each bridge has been checked three times and officials say stability has been confirmed.
It's too early to tell if the incident is flood-related, says Calgary's acting fire chief Cam Uzeloc.
Inspecting train bridges falls under federal jurisdiction.
The city is still in a state of emergency following the devastating flooding of the Bow and Elbow rivers last week.
That will continue for at least another week, according to Bruce Burrell, director of the city’s Emergency Management Agency.
Power has been restored to approximately five of seven areas of the downtown grid. All single-family dwellings outside the downtown core have been cleared for entry.
The city is also opening nine community support centres to connect returning residents to essential services.
The Trans-Canada Highway between Calgary and Banff has reopened. Traffic is limited to one lane in each direction and the speed limit is reduced to 60 km/h.
Here are some key developments about how to return safely and what's happening across the city. Have a question? Ask us in the comments and we'll do our best to respond.
LIVE:Get the latest from CBC News on the Alberta flooding
Evacuation orders remained lifted Thursday for all single-family homes outside the downtown core. Get the latest on evacuation notices on the city's website.
Across the province, 22 communities are still operating under local states of emergency.
The Enmax CEO announced Wednesday that crews should be able to restore power to Mission, Cliff Bungalow, Beltline and Victoria Park by midnight MT.
There is no timeline yet for power restoration in Elbow Park, Erlton, Rideau Park, Bonnybrook, East Village and the remaining areas of the downtown core.
Power downtown has been restored to five of the seven power areas.
There are still 10,600 metre outages in Calgary, affecting even more customers.
Enmax has a full list of current outages affecting Calgary.
A number of bridges in the city have reopened, either partially or in full, including the Langevin Bridge across the Bow River at the bottom of Edmonton Trail. MacDonald Bridge is now open. However, all bridges across the Elbow River remain closed.
Some major routes also reopened Wednesday, including Macleod Trail in and out of the core. Memorial Drive is open to two way traffic between Crowchild Trail and 10th street. A single lane is open on Shouldice bridge. Barlow Trail is open in both directions. The city is also providing constant updates about roads on its website.
For more information on highway closures in flood-affected areas, see the Alberta Transportation website.
Both the Bow and Elbow river levels remain unchanged. The city says the flow rates are being reduced slowly in order to prevent the collapse of riverbanks.
Calgarians can call 311 for any flood-related updates or visit the city's website for the most up-to-date information.
As of Thursday morning, the Calgary Parking Authority began charging again for its lots and its on-street parking stalls in the downtown core.
In the area north of Nineth Avenue S.W. and west of Second Street S.W., parking fees will be back in effect.
That excludes two blocks of Second and Third Avenue S.W., west of Sixth Street S.W., as well as Eau Claire Avenue.
Until the state of emergency is lifted, officials say all the proceeds from on-street and parking lot revenue will go to flood relief efforts.
Calgary officials expect significant traffic congestion on city streets caused by the inability to synchronize traffic lights. Calgarians are being urged to car pool or use transit in order to improve traffic flow.
The city will tow parked vehicles to allow garbage trucks and other service vehicles access to affected neighbourhoods. However, the towed vehicles will not be ticketed.
The city has set up "park and bike" spots around the city for commuters. More information, including a map, can be found on the city's website.
Calgary Transit reported some C-Train lines are now fully operational.
The Blue Line is operating from the city's southwest to the northeast via the downtown. However, the stops at Centre Street and city hall are closed.
There is no downtown service on the Red Line. There are trains running from Crowfoot in the northwest to Eighth Street southwest on the edge of downtown. On the southern portion of the line, trains are running between the Somerset-Bridlewood station and the Heritage station. A shuttle bus service links the Eighth Street and Heritage stations.
Bus Rapid Transit service has been restored to parts of the downtown.
For the latest on transit service, follow @calgarytransit or check for service updates at www.calgarytransit.com.
The city says the Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant was flooded and released raw sewage into the Bow River. Mayor Naheed Nenshi says the city’s two other plants are operating safely and communities downstream have been warned about the problem.
City officials say water quality in Calgary hasn't been affected, and there is no boil water advisory in place at this time, but as of Wednesday morning an outdoor water ban is still in place, meaning no car washing or lawn watering.
Residents are also being asked to limit indoor water use. For example, avoid using dishwashers and washing machines and to take quick showers and shallow baths.
Thousands of people affected by evacuation orders continue to do self-assessments of their homes.
Those heading home are being urged to follow safety guidelines when they re-enter.
Only attempt re-entry if the following criteria are met:
The road and sidewalk are dry.
There is no floodwater on entry.
Inspect the basement for water. If there’s water above electrical outlets,leave the home immediately.
Residents who find problems and need services restored are now being asked to go to one of the nine community support centres instead of posting signs in their windows.
The nine community support centres are:
Bowness Community Association, 7904 43 Ave N.W.
Bridgeland Riverside Community Association, 917 Centre Ave. N.E.
Cliff Bungalow/Mission Community Association, 2201 Cliff St. S.W.
Connaught Community School, 1121 12 Ave. S.W.
Elbow Park Tennis Club, 800 34 Ave. S.W.
Inglewood Community Association, 1740 24 Ave. S.E.
Park Hill Stanley Park Community Association, 4013 Stanley Rd. S.W.
Hillhurst/Sunnyside community Association, 1320 5 Ave. N.W.
Sing Tao Daily Newspaper, 116 3 Ave. S.E.
The support centres will be staffed by representatives of Calgary police, fire, water resources, waste and recycling, development and building approvals (inspections) and ATCO.
The support centres will be open Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT. Starting Thursday, the centres will operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT.
Calgarians can also make a request for municipal services through the city's 311 mobile app.
Calgary residents who live in apartments and condos should contact their building managers.
The Canadian Red Cross is asking Calgarians looking to connect with family members who have been displaced to call 1-866-696-6484.
Alberta Health Services is warning homeowners to be careful of asbestos when removing flood-damaged materials from their homes. AHS says many houses built before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos in building materials such as drywall, ceiling tiles and insulation.
AHS says anyone working to clear flood-damaged homes needs to wear a respiratory mask and gloves.
For a comprehensive list of affected city services and evacuations, check the City of Calgary blog here.
The City of Calgary has set up two service centres to help people who need to pay their taxes (due Friday) or need help with development permits.
Mayor Nenshi said Wednesday that he would bring a proposal to council for a two-week grace period, extending the time people could hand in property taxes without penalty until July 12.
One service centre is located at the Rose Kohn Arena in the southwest. The other is at the municipal elections office on 55th Avenue in the city's northeast.
Many roads and trails in Kananaskis Country will be closed for the long weekend as they are unstable and pose a safety risk.
The closures include Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Evan Thomas Recreation Area and Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park.
Wyndham-Carseland Provincial Park southeast of Calgary is closed indefinitely.
Alberta Parks will offer full refunds for campground reservations cancelled between now and the end of July.
Canada Post has set up depots around the city where people in flood-affected areas can pick up their mail.
All public and Catholic schools in Calgary will remain closed until Thursday.
The schools will reopen on Thursday for a half day to allow students to collect their belongings, pick up report cards and say goodbye to teachers and classmates.
However, there will be no bus service for students on Thursday. Those unable to attend will have their report cards mailed to them.
High schools in non-evacuated areas will remain open for students writing diploma exams this week; however, Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests are cancelled and students will receive a mark awarded by their teacher.
The Calgary Board of Education has cancelled Grade 12 diploma exams, but will make arrangements for those students who still want to write the exams.
Find out where to write your diploma exams
The University of Calgary's four campuses re-opened Wednesday.
Classes also resumed Wednesday at Mount Royal University and examinations have been rescheduled. For details, go to the university’s website.
Classes held on the Bow Valley College campus and online are cancelled until Tuesday, July 2, at the earliest.
For a list of emergency alerts in Calgary and Alberta, check here: emergencyalert.alberta.ca.
Evacuees with no place to go will be provided with food, shelter, bedding and other essential services at one of these reception centres:
Acadia Recreation Complex A, 240 90th Ave. S.E.
Village Square Leisure Centre, 2623 56th St. N.E.
Central Memorial High School, 5111 21 St. S.W.
Southland Leisure Centre, located at 2000 Southland Dr. S.W.
Centre Street Church, 3900 2 St N.E. (registration only, no onsite lodging).
Check here to see which centres have lodging available.
SAIT Polytechnic's residence buildings have also been opened to flood evacuees.
People can take pets to the Animal Service Centre, at 2201 Portland St. S.E.
The Calgary Humane Society, at 4455 110th Ave. S.E., says it can no longer accept pets as it's at capacity.
Blue cart collection service has been suspended in all Calgary communities until further notice.
Residents are asked to store recyclable materials until collection resumes or take them to community recycling depots.
Other residential collection services will continue on usual collection days for communities not impacted by flooding.
In flood areas, garbage trucks and dumpsters will only be available at re-entry information centres in each of the communities.
Residents can bring their garbage and flood-damaged materials to these locations for collection.
Residents of flooded communities can also leave large items on their front lawns for collection. They are asked to mark items with a sign if they do not wish for those items to be collected.
Electronics, appliances and household hazardous waste such as propane tanks, chemicals and paints will not be accepted in the garbage but will be collected later from flooded communities.
Current weather conditions
The Calgary Court Centre reopened on Thursday.
People with scheduled trials can go to the Alberta Justice website for more information.
The Calgary Court of Appeal in the TransCanada Pipeline building remains closed and hearings are adjourned until Thursday.
The Sheldon M. Chumir Urgent Care Centre reopened Wednesday for urgent care.
Roughly 30 surgical procedures in Calgary urban hospital sites were postponed Friday. They were all elective procedures and Alberta Health Services said patients would be contacted directly.
For a list of which health-care centres are affected by flooding in other southern Alberta communities, including High River, Canmore and Sundre, click here: www.albertahealthservices.ca/8644.asp.
The Central and Memorial Park Branches of the Calgary Public Library will be closed until further notice. The Village Square location is being used as an evacuation centre. The Shawnessy Library, which was being used as an evacuation centre, is now open to the public. All other library branches are open.
Canada Day celebrations will be moved to Shaw Millennium Park from the flooded Prince's Island Park. Mayor Nenshi says Calgarians are invited to return to the city's downtown on Canada Day.
The Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts remains closed and all events are cancelled.
Organizers of the Calgary Stampede said Monday morning that the 101st edition of the Stampede will go ahead as scheduled from July 5-14.
Shakespeare in the Park's production of Romeo and Juliet, set to begin on Tuesday evening at Prince's Island Park, has found a new home. The company will relocate to the amphitheatre at Mount Royal University.
The U.S. Consulate General was closed last week due to flooding. American citizens can now speak to consulate officials at the Calgary airport.
The Canadian Red Cross Alberta Floods Response is accepting financial donations. Call 1-800-418-1111.
AIDS Calgary is taking donations intended to help the Siksika First Nation. Donations can be made at the AIDS Calgary office, located at 16th Street and 10th Avenue SW.
Canadians can also donate to the Salvation Army Alberta Flood Relief Effort at the website or call 1-800-725-2769.
Samaritan's Purse Canada says it will need volunteers to help in the cleanup and recovery of flooded homes. As well, people can donate money. Call 1-800-663-6500.
The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre is also seeking various goods and supplies including socks, underwear, hygiene supplies, bug spray, blankets and pillows, towels and plungers. The centre is also looking for volunteers and donations. Call 403-699-8260.
Other organizations seeking assistance include the YWCA of Calgary, Calgary Clean Up Facebook page, Volunteer Calgary and YYC Helps.
