News | DrumhellerMail - Page #1255
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Last updateFri, 17 May 2024 12pm

State of Emergency remains in effect

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The state of local emergency for Wayne and Highway 10x remains in effect as does the mandatory evacuation.
Alberta Transportation has completed its inspections for today and is now working at removing debris which is affecting a number of bridges.
The level of the Red Deer River, as forecasted, is rising and is still predicted peak at 700-750 cubic meters/ second tomorrow at noon. For comparison, in 2013 the river flows were 1,300 cubic metres/second.
The Town of Drumheller is working with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and other provincial agencies as we monitor the situation.
If any citizens require assistance please call 403 823 6300 until 4.30 and then the emergency number at 403 823 2512.
Those citizens that remain in the evacuation area are recommended by Alberta Health Services to boil their water. For additional information please visit https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/eph/Page15235.aspx


Local state of Emergency remains in effect

The Reception Centre was set up in the Drumheller Agriculture Society’s Stampede Barn on Monday, April 23, for residents that had been asked to evacuate. Since then, these residents have made alternative accommodations. Mailphoto by Terri Huxley

As of Tuesday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m., the state of local emergency for Wayne and Highway 10x remains in effect as does the mandatory evacuation.
Two residents utilized the Drumheller Agriculture Society’s Stampede Barn that has since become the main Reception Centre for last night.
In total, 27 people registered yesterday evening where there was a mixture of people coming in and calling in. Emergency personnel visited 30 residences to give the evacuation order.
“We just want to know that they are safe. That’s the main thing,” said Town of Drumheller Economic Development and Communications Officer Julia Fielding.
This mandatory evacuation is due to the need to ensure the integrity of the bridges along the highway.
Alberta Transportation is inspecting the road and bridges along Highway 10X and will be reporting back shortly.
“The reason for the evacuation is the bridges so we are very concerned about the integrity of the bridges so that is why we’ve asked people to leave because we can’t currently safely say that all the bridges are safe. We don’t want there to be an incident driving over the bridges,” said Fielding.
The Rosebud River dropped 2 inches overnight, however, there is still snow melt which is expected to affect the level.
The levels of the Red Deer River are being monitored through the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. It rose 0.5 metres overnight which is 1 metre below the levels seen on Saturday evening.
At this time, the Town is working with residents to find arrangements for livestock and help with sandbagging their homes.
Town crews continue to monitor river levels and debris. Additional updates will be forthcoming.
The Reception Centre at the Stampede Barn re-opened at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning for residents affected by the evacuation of Wayne and Highway 10X area.
Affected residents are asked to register to ensure that their safety has been accounted for. To register call 403-334-2564.

State of Emergency declared for Wayne

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A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the community of Wayne and there is a mandatory evacuation order for residents in Wayne and along Highway 10X.
Acting CAO Barb Miller says that the Drumheller Fire Department is going door-to-door to evacuate residents from Bridge 2 near Rosedale all the way to Wayne.
This comes in light of water levels in the Rosebud River expected to rise another eight inches in the next 24 hours. Consistently the Rosebud River level throughout the day has been about 4.4 metres at Redland.
“The Town has been in constant communication with provincial river forecasters and Alberta Emergency Management alert personnel, and have been continuously monitoring the conditions of the river,” said Miller.
Miller says the primary concern is for the safety of residents and the integrity of the bridges that connect Wayne and residents along Highway 10X. Alberta Transportation has been monitoring the bridges during the high-water event and this afternoon Drumheller firefighters were on the bridges 3, 5 and 11 monitoring for large debris and erosion around the bridge supports.
The highway is being closed to traffic aside from local residents leaving the area and Miller hopes that the evacuation will be completed later this evening.
According to a press release from The Town of Drumheller, all evacuated residents must register with the Reception Centre at the Ag Society Stampede Barn.

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Mayor Heather Colberg requests that residents cooperate with authorities and keep tuned to local radio for further details. Town’s emergency management team are quickly implementing plans and dealing with issues as they arise.
Watch www.drumhellermail.com and its Facebook page for further updates as they become available.


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