Town of Edson declares state of emergency due to flooding

After thousands returned home Friday due to a wildfire, the Town of Edson is now facing a local state of emergency due to flooding Monday.

A declaration was made at 12:12 p.m. for the town.

“We asked for rain, and boy did we get it,” said Edson Mayor Kevin Zahara in a news conference.

“If it wants to stop now, we would be very happy about that.”

The rain started over 48 hours ago, and the town has seen 105 millimetres of rain, with 85 of them in the past “few hours,” which is the amount of rain the town would see within a month.

“No town infrastructure, city infrastructure can handle that much water in that amount of time,” Zahara said.

The town has closed 6 Avenue and 40 Street, and 6 Avenue between 47 and 48 streets as “water is overflowing that street — or close to,” and pumps are being set up to alleviate the flooding.

There is localized flooding in various neighbourhoods in the town. Around 13 properties have reported flooding.

“If you are experiencing flooding, please document, keep receipts,” Zahara said.

“We’ll be looking at ways in which we can work with the province in disaster recovery programs and things of that nature … to hopefully alleviate some of those costs.”

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• Edson, Greenview ordered to evacuate due to wildfires

Phone lines are down, and the internet is also down at this time.

Zahara says the current flood, on top of the wildfires, is “taxing our resources.”

Meanwhile, the fire south of Edson is considered out of control, and crews are continuing to mitigate the fire.

However, the work on re-entry has been “remarkable.”

Christine Beveridge, chief administrative officer for Edson, says 3,400 homes have been outfitted with heating since Friday, along with several businesses opening up right away.

There still remain around 3,400 homes that have no heat, along with 44 businesses.

The number to call for those still without heat is 310-5678.

Despite the fond news on the fire, she says, “We’re not through this.”

“We have shifted to a new emergency today, but we appreciate everyone’s patience,” Beveridge said.

“We have every resource possible, and we are working with Alberta Emergency Management Agency to get more resources here. We’re going to be reaching out to our neighbouring municipalities to see if they can help support us with some crews to help our teams to be able to divert this water.”

The after-hours number is 780-723-6300.

“Today is hard to watch, to see people struggling with their homes,” said Zahara tearfully.

“But I am incredibly proud of our staff here at the Town of Edson and all of our emergency responders.”

The rain is expected to continue through Tuesday night, with Environment and Climate Change Canada reporting another 40 to 80 millimetres.

Meanwhile, snowfall warnings are out west of Edson in Jasper National Park, where 20 to 40 centimetres of snow is anticipated at higher elevations.

-With files from Mark Strashok