The summer flood disasters began on June 20, impacting a substantial amount of Albertans within 30 communities, one of which being the town of High River

More than 8, 600 applications for Disaster Recovery support has been received, with 2, 324 payments made, totaling over $11.2 million for all of Alberta. However, many applications received are incomplete, denied or haven’t been filed.

Office Manager Brenda Norrie at Signature Smiles says the proper coverage is limited for some homeowners because insurance companies look at all aspects of the damage. “I know that a lot of home owners failed to have proper home insurance to begin with.  Because the cost to insurance was so astronomical, I believe a lot of companies are finding ways to prove that damage to our homes was a direct result of flooding.” Most of High River residents weren’t allowed back in their homes after the flooding.  

Animal Health Technologist Catherine Smith and her family have not yet been able to return to their home, as the damage is extensive. Smith explains that the government hired engineers who did an assessment and gave the family approval to repair it – out of their own pocket. Smith says that the most important thing for her community is to prevent floods in the future.  

According to the Town of High River Flood Mitigation Plan, there are six projects either being considered, or in progress. These include upgrades to the Northwest Berm [terrace bordering a river or canal] and the Northwest Highwood River Bank Project and the construction of a connection berm between the two. Repairs will be made to the town dike and other flood-mitigation structures. As well, over 600 meters of damaged rail track have been removed, and materials have been scraped from the Highwood River to ensure safe flow.

Although almost 50 million in disaster assistance has been provided to towns like High River, Calgary, and other effected municipalities, some citizens are still trying hard to find a silver lining.

Jody Hoogwerf, program manager for Closer to Home Community Services, says it’s hard not to notice the struggle for others in her community. “In terms of quality of life for the town, we are far from normal. Many business, seniors, and towns’ people are still displaced; there are trauma triggers everywhere in town – watching local businesses and homes be torn down, listening to others and their continuous struggle with the lack of support they receive from the government or insurance companies, makes it hard to feel thankful.” For Hoogwerf, her biggest panic is what most citizens in High River are thinking. “That folks will be forgotten, that houses will sit and rot, that next year it will happen again and that people will continue to judge this town by its name.”

With insurance companies, construction companies, citizens, families, friends and city council all working together to do the best they can for the rest of the stranded citizens, there is one thing that is currently and will continue to be on everyone’s mind: prevention from any future floods and the vast amount of damage it brings