The provincial government's updated flood mitigation standards announced last week should be helpful to West Central Alberta residents and homeowners in the event of future flooding, says Mountain View County's deputy reeve.
“There are definitely good measures for protecting people's homes,” said Patricia McKean. “My feeling is we also need to look at preventative measures for flooding, like not building in the flood plains and berming to try to prevent the flooding from happening.
“I think the provincial government, the municipal government, and people need to be planning better where they are building to ensure that things like this are not happening.”
The province outlined new minimum flood mitigation standards and new protections for people purchasing homes or other property in flood fringe areas where flooding may occur during high-water events.
The new minimum individual flood mitigation standards for flood fringe areas include the following:
• Refinish with materials and finishes that resist water damage and are cleanable.
• Seal all the openings in the basement wall where piping, wiring and conduits come through, to prevent seepage.
• Protect electrical services in the basement to quickly restore electrical function by raising wiring and outlets, and by moving and modifying the main electrical panel so that basement circuits that may be affected by flood water are isolated from the remainder of the home or business.
• Protect plumbing fixtures and equipment from backflow from the public sewers.
“Setting these measures for home and small business owners in flood fringe areas is the first step toward mitigating potential future damage,” said Doug Griffiths, minister of Municipal Affairs.
“We have worked hard to find practical ways homeowners and small businesses can better protect their property from flood damage in the future. We want to ensure Albertans can make informed choices based on their personal situation.”
The government also announced updated protections for future buyers of properties in floodways or flood fringe areas.
Under the new rules, a notice will be placed at Land Titles stating if property is on a floodway or a flood fringe and if the property utilized 2013 DRP funding.
Only properties in floodways and flood fringes that accessed assistance will have this notice, and once property owners in the flood fringe submit proof of mitigation to Land Titles their title will be cleared of the DRP notice, he said.
“This will ensure future owners can apply for disaster assistance and get the help they need in the event of a future flood,” said Griffiths.
“We have a responsibility to put protective measures in place for future buyers, realtors, lenders and insurers.”
