Second state of emergency issued
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has declared a secondary State of Local Emergency (SOLE) as of 10:41 a.m. due to high water levels along the Athabasca, Snye and Clearwater Rivers.
The SOLE applies to all of Fort McMurray, Draper, and lower townsite and Clearwater areas within the RMWB.
The first SOLE was initially declared on March 20, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Access to the Lower Townsite including MacDonald Island, downtown and Waterways is temporarily closed due to flooding
concerns. No entry is allowed and residents who leave will not be allowed reentry.
All residents are advised to avoid river banks and shorelines as they remain dangerous, and flooding is occurring in certain areas resulting in evacuation orders and affecting travel routes. As well, please avoid stopping on the Athabasca bridge to watch the river.
At this time the Municipality does not anticipate any closures to the Highway 63 bridge that is designed to withstand river breakup. Any unnecessary travel should be avoided along with stopping on the bridge.
READ MORE: Mandatory evacuation orders issued for much of lower townsite
Residents in the area should prepare a 72-hour emergency kit and stay alert.
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The Municipality has information on how you could prepare your home and what you should include in your kit.
EMERGENCY KIT FOR HOME
- Water (2 litres per person, per day)
- Canned food, energy bars, dried foods
- Manual can opener
- Wind up or battery powered flashlights and radio
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Change of clothing and footwear
- Prescriptions medications
- Infant supplies such as diapers and formula
- Pet supplies such as food, food/water dish, leash, crate, kitty litter and litter pan
- Personal hygiene items
- Extra keys
- Cash in smaller bills
A boil water advisory is also in affect for neighbourhoods north of the bridge.
READ MORE: Boil water advisory in affect north of bridge
Visit the Municipality’s website and follow Municipal social media channels for alerts, updates and information.
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If you need immediate assistance or in the event of an emergency while evacuating, call 9-1-1.
Volunteers can sign up online, and will be contact as physical distancing measures need to be kept in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For further questions, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000 or 1-800-973-9663.