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RMWB Council tours flood-impacted areas

Last Updated Apr 29, 2020 at 12:12 am MDT

PHOTO. Regional Fire Chief Jody Butz, middle, guides members of RMWB Council through flood-impacted areas of downtown Fort McMurray. Supplied by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Mayor and Councillors toured the flood-impacted areas of downtown Fort McMurray.

Regional Fire Chief Jody Butz guided Mayor Don Scott and Councillors Krista Balsom, Phil Meagher, and Sheila Lalonde through the Lower Townsite and Waterways.

READ MORE: RMWB provides community update on flooding

RMWB Council visited several areas to also see firsthand the response efforts by volunteers and first responders.

Mayor Don Scott said it’s difficult to see the damage the flood caused during already trying times.

“Together we will get through this historic flooding event as a strong and resilient community [as] we have done before. This evening we had the opportunity to thank first responders in person and recognize their hard work on site. I would like to also recognize the commitment of our volunteers and all of our partners who continue to collaborate on this response.”

The Regional Emergency Coordination Centre will also assess through ground, air, and boat reconnaissance.

The RMWB expect to share estimations of the damages with the public in the days ahead.

Draper, Waterways, Taiga Nova Eco-Industrial Park and the Lower Townsite remain under mandatory evacuation orders.

READ MORE: Pump plan in place to recover Taiga Nova park

There is no public access to the Lower Townsite and re-entry is not permitted.

A voluntary evacuation notice is in place for Grayling Terrace due to the deactivation of gas, heat, and hot water.

The evacuation does not impact the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.