Alberta hires flood mitigation engineering firms

Alberta has hired two engineering companies to help itfind ways to protect people from future devastating floods.

The firms AMEC and AECOM were chosen following a request forproposals by the government.

Details of the contracts, including the cost and when thecompanies will make their reports, were not released.

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Alberta officials have said the projects could include dams,dikes, berms and water diversions.

Officials say the government will ask experts and the public formore ideas at a flood mitigation symposium Friday in Calgary.

The engineering firms would then help the government make a short list of the best ideas and assess their viability.

"We know it is impossible to prevent floods from happening;however there's a lot we can do to lessen the impact these eventshave on Alberta's communities," Municipal Affairs Minister DougGriffiths said Tuesday in a release.

"This is a next step in our ongoing work to find the best ways to protect Albertans when floodwaters threaten our homes in thefuture."

The province estimates more than 100,000 people in 30 communitieswere affected by the floods.More than 2,000 people are still out of their homes, includingalmost 1,300 living in temporary neighbourhoods in High River andSiksika.