Merrick Brown, City of Medicine Hat director of emergency management (Photo Courtesy of Colton McKee)

By Chris Brown & Scott Roblin

City Hall update

No risk of flooding but officials are monitoring the river

Jun 2, 2020 | 11:58 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The South Saskatchewan River is rising but there is still no risk of flooding.

Merrick Brown, the city’s director of emergency management, said pre-emptive flood measures continue to happen, including filling sandbags, and temporary measures (muscle walls) on Industrial Avenue are complete and those in the Harlow area will be done today.

“We’ve concluded that process with the sand bag filling,” said Brown. “We need approximately 25,000 to be fully prepared for a flood, but we can fill those remaining 7,000 at the time of the event… if there is an event of course.”

City of Medicine Hat officials continue to monitor the river in the city and rivers upstream as well, Brown said during the weekly COVID-19 update at city hall.

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“Upstream of the South Saskatchewan River, which would be the Bow River and the Oldman River, we are seeing an increase in flow rates in both of those which will translate down to an increase in flow rates on the South Saskatchewan River,” said Brown.

He also advises people to stay off the river due to the ebbs and flows happening.

Brown also recommends not holding garage sales, but that the city will rely on the public to make those decisions for themselves.

Brown also praised Hatters for how they responded to the city’s reopening of play structures and skate parks in the city on May 29. The reopening of splash parks and washrooms in parks in the city is being looked at.

“The compliance rates as it relates to this is really great,” said Brown. “Once again, I’d like to thank the community for this. Even in my position, there’s been very little issues associated with this.”

He adds pools won’t be open until the province moves to Stage 3 of its relaunch, the date for which hasn’t been determined.

Mayor Ted Clugston commended Hatters for the responses received to the city’s call for ideas about “stay-cations” in the city this summer.

“We’re just going through those right now,” said Clugston. “Some examples were camping at Echo Dale, bringing back fireworks of course, drive-in movies. We’re actually evaluating all these suggestions and we’ll keep you informed.”