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Canadian floods prompt evacuation of entire downtown Calgary area Canadian floods prompt evacuation of entire downtown Calgary area
(3 months later)
Flooding forced the western Canadian city of Calgary to order the evacuation of the entire downtown area on Friday, as surging waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena and killed several people in the province of Alberta.Flooding forced the western Canadian city of Calgary to order the evacuation of the entire downtown area on Friday, as surging waters reached the 10th row of the city's hockey arena and killed several people in the province of Alberta.
About 230,000 people work downtown on a typical day. However, officials said very few people need to be moved out since many heeded warnings and did not go to work on Friday.About 230,000 people work downtown on a typical day. However, officials said very few people need to be moved out since many heeded warnings and did not go to work on Friday.
Twenty-five neighbourhoods in the city with an estimated population of 75,000 were evacuated due to floodwaters in Calgary, a city of more than a million people that hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and is the center of Canada's oil industry.Twenty-five neighbourhoods in the city with an estimated population of 75,000 were evacuated due to floodwaters in Calgary, a city of more than a million people that hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and is the center of Canada's oil industry.
As many as four people may have been killed in Alberta, police said. The bodies of two men were seen floating down a river and a woman washed away with her campervan was missing. Another man was seen falling from a canoe in the Highwood river and it was not known whether he had reached safety.As many as four people may have been killed in Alberta, police said. The bodies of two men were seen floating down a river and a woman washed away with her campervan was missing. Another man was seen falling from a canoe in the Highwood river and it was not known whether he had reached safety.
In downtown Calgary water inundated homes and businesses in the shadow of skyscrapers. Water swamped cars and train tracks.In downtown Calgary water inundated homes and businesses in the shadow of skyscrapers. Water swamped cars and train tracks.
The city said the home rink of National Hockey League team the Calgary Flames had flooded 10 rows deep. The 19,000-seat Saddledome is one of the feature buildings on the famed Calgary Stampede grounds, which was largely underwater.The city said the home rink of National Hockey League team the Calgary Flames had flooded 10 rows deep. The 19,000-seat Saddledome is one of the feature buildings on the famed Calgary Stampede grounds, which was largely underwater.
About 1,500 people went to emergency shelters while the rest found shelter with family or friends, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said.About 1,500 people went to emergency shelters while the rest found shelter with family or friends, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said.
Nenshi said he had never seen the rivers that high or that fast but the situation was as under control as possible. Nenshi said the Elbow River, one of two rivers that flow through the southern Alberta city, had peaked.Nenshi said he had never seen the rivers that high or that fast but the situation was as under control as possible. Nenshi said the Elbow River, one of two rivers that flow through the southern Alberta city, had peaked.
Police urged people to stay away from downtown and not go to work.Police urged people to stay away from downtown and not go to work.
The flood was forcing emergency plans at the Calgary zoo, which is situated on an island near where the Elbow and Bow rivers meet. Lions and tigers were being prepared for transfer, if necessary, to prisoner holding cells at the courthouse.The flood was forcing emergency plans at the Calgary zoo, which is situated on an island near where the Elbow and Bow rivers meet. Lions and tigers were being prepared for transfer, if necessary, to prisoner holding cells at the courthouse.
Schools and court trials were cancelled on Friday and residents urged to avoid downtown. Transit service in the cith centre was shut down.Schools and court trials were cancelled on Friday and residents urged to avoid downtown. Transit service in the cith centre was shut down.
The Alberta premier, Alison Redford, promised the province would help flood victims put their lives back together and provide financial aid for communities to rebuild. Redford said she had spoken to the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, who was heading to Calgary and promised disaster relief. She called the flooding that has hit most of southern Alberta an "absolutely tragic situation and urged people to obey emergency orders.The Alberta premier, Alison Redford, promised the province would help flood victims put their lives back together and provide financial aid for communities to rebuild. Redford said she had spoken to the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, who was heading to Calgary and promised disaster relief. She called the flooding that has hit most of southern Alberta an "absolutely tragic situation and urged people to obey emergency orders.
The premier warned that communities downstream of Calgary had not yet felt the full force of the floodwaters.The premier warned that communities downstream of Calgary had not yet felt the full force of the floodwaters.
It had been a rainy week throughout much of Alberta but on Thursday the Bow River Basin was battered with up to 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain. Environment Canada's forecast calls for more rain in the area but in much smaller amounts.It had been a rainy week throughout much of Alberta but on Thursday the Bow River Basin was battered with up to 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain. Environment Canada's forecast calls for more rain in the area but in much smaller amounts.
Calgary is not alone in its weather-related woes. There have been flashpoints of chaos from Banff and Canmore and Crowsnest Pass in the Rockies and south to Lethbridge.Calgary is not alone in its weather-related woes. There have been flashpoints of chaos from Banff and Canmore and Crowsnest Pass in the Rockies and south to Lethbridge.
More than a dozen towns have declared a state of emergency. Entire communities, including High River and Bragg Creek, near Calgary are under mandatory evacuation orders.More than a dozen towns have declared a state of emergency. Entire communities, including High River and Bragg Creek, near Calgary are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Some of the worst flooding hit High River, where it was estimated half of the people in the town had their homes flooded.Some of the worst flooding hit High River, where it was estimated half of the people in the town had their homes flooded.
Military helicopters plucked about 30 people off rooftops in the area. Others were rescued by boat or in the buckets of heavy machinery. Some swam for their lives from stranded cars.Military helicopters plucked about 30 people off rooftops in the area. Others were rescued by boat or in the buckets of heavy machinery. Some swam for their lives from stranded cars.
A spokesperson for the defence minister, Peter MacKay, said 354 soldiers were being deployed to the flood zone.A spokesperson for the defence minister, Peter MacKay, said 354 soldiers were being deployed to the flood zone.
Further west, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, pictures from the mountain town of Canmore depicted a raging river ripping at house foundations.Further west, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, pictures from the mountain town of Canmore depicted a raging river ripping at house foundations.
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