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Features
2021/3/18
Flood Preparedness
brought to you in part by
MANITOBA - SCORE C Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
WT - Covid 19 Impact -Public health orders in 2020 prioritized pandemic response over flood response. At-risk property owners were advised to make evacuation plans, as physical distancing requirements would not be waived for sandbagging crews. Assuming that Covid-19 measures and physical distancing specifically remain in force, has your government considered alternative measures to deal with emergency flooding?
The pandemic response was not prioritized over flood response. Our government considered both the implications of COVID-19 risks and to the safe conduct of flood response operations. Manitoba Infrastructure prepared guidelines for implementing COVID-19 safe work procedures for sandbag and dike construction that were shared with municipalities. These documents provide a clear and concise process on sandbag production, the construction of sandbag dikes, as well as the installation of water-filled barriers and various high water event measures.
WT - Climate change and its related extreme weather events significantly increase the threat of flooding. What measures has your government put in place to deal with the increased risks?
Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centres spring thaw outlook reports the risk of a major spring high water event remains low in most Manitoba basins and is still dependent on weather conditions from now until spring melt. Our government remains vigilant and prepared and will continue to monitor watershed conditions across the province. Our Hydrologic Forecast Centre provides accurate and timely hydrologic forecasts, and monitors river flows and lake levels daily throughout the year. We have complete confidence that our government is prepared to respond to any potential hydrologic event and ensure the safety of all Manitobans.
WT - Manitoba floods are for the most part fluvial, affecting the areas around the Red River, Saskatchewan River, and Assiniboine River. Manitoba's first 2021 flooding forecast published in February predicted a low risk of major events, based on low amounts of moisture in the soil and below-average totals of rain and snow over the last couple of months. With the unpredictability of current weather patterns, how confident are you that this situation won't change and what precautions are put in place to deal with unexpected flooding?
The Manitoba government continues to invest in flood mitigation infrastructure. We have an extensive network of water control structures, forecasting and coordination tools and emergency response systems to ensure our province is prepared for any climate changes that may impose hydrologic events.
WT -According to your website, when a natural disaster occurs, the Manitoba Government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) when insurance is not reasonably or readily available, and when the event is an extraordinary natural disaster, causing widespread damage. The DFA may include the cost of evacuation when an authorized government official orders the evacuation of people or animals. Can you give us an estimate amount of the DFA in recent years?
The province has established five DFA programs for disasters that took place over 2019 and 2020. The total approved costs for 2019 is approximately $9M and $52M for 2020.
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