Residents of the northern high-altitude community of Alberta in Chateh may be out of their homes for several months after the floods forced them to flee on Sunday and Monday.
About 1,100 people have left the Dene Ta ‘First Nation community as water in Sousa Creeks, the basin and surrounding waterways has continued to rise over the past few days.
Chateh is about 850 kilometers northwest of Edmonton.
First Nation chief James Anasey said Dene Ta ‘said many people stay in high-end motels, but some sleep on mats in the local arena.
“I feel very worried,” Anasey told CBC News on Monday.
“I pray and I hope that everyone will be able to work together, stay as family or friends, support each other until it’s all over and they start coming home one by one or whatever. “
Ahnassay said residents living in higher places may be able to return soon after the roads are repaired, but it could take months for others.
“Probably by July, by the end of July, maybe,” Anasey said.
Raw video of a high-level flood west, Alta.
More than a thousand residents of northern Alberta in and around the Chatech community have been forced to flee their homes due to flooding. Most residents have high-level temporary accommodation. 0:56
Every year, the water level near the community usually rises with the spring thaw, Anasey noted, but it did not flood the community until last year, when it rained heavily.
It then took weeks for water levels to drop enough for residents to return, but this year he expects it to take even longer.
“This is the worst flood we have ever had,” Anasey said.
Ahnassay attributes the cumulative effects of climate change, deforestation, construction and more rainfall to the greater likelihood of flooding.
Government response
Rick McIver, Alberta’s secretary of municipal affairs, said a First Nations liaison was on the ground to help the on-site emergency response team.
“We are using the Tiger dams, which are a temporary method of flood mitigation, and we will increase our response as required by the situation,” McIver told the media on Monday.
The Alberta Environment and Parks website lists the Sousa Creek pool as a flood warning according to its recommendations and warnings.
“Water levels appear to be peaking in the Chateh community, but will remain high for the next few days as the snow melts,” the website said.
Floods have also been reported in the village of Paddle Prairie Metis and Little Red River Cree Nation in John D’Or Prairie, the website said.
Between Thursday at noon and Monday morning, between 50 and 120 mm fell in northwestern Alberta between the Grande Prairie and west of the High Level, although no significant precipitation is expected in the forecast.
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