Calgary floods: What you need to know now

Thousands of Calgarians were evacuated in June when the Bow and Elbow rivers flooded. CBC News has rounded up key information and links about the city's recovery efforts.

How to access financial assistance

Disaster financial assistance staff will be in Calgary from July 2 until July 7 to help residents access recovery money.

Staff will be at the McMahon Stadium Red and White Club and the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning. Hours at both locations are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 2 and then 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for all other days.

The provincial government has made changes to the Disaster Recovery Program so that flood victims will not need to wait for their municipalities to apply for disaster assistance on their behalf or for property inspections to take place before payments are made.

Those requirements will be addressed later.

More registration centre locations will be announced as times and locations are coordinated with local authorities.

In order tor receive payment, residents should:

1. Visitwww.alberta.ca or follow local news to find out when a registration centre is going to open in their region.
2. Go to a registration centre and provide the following:
   • Government-issued photo I.D.
   • A list of damaged property with estimated measurements of square footage of their home.
   • An alternate mailing address if they are not living in their primary residence.
   • And, only if available, a letter from their insurance company confirming losses are uninsurable, a land title and photos and lists of damaged property.
3. Work with registration centre staff to complete an application for funding.

Applicants will receive an initial payment by mail within seven to 14 days of applying.

The amounts of payments will be based on the size of a home, the number of rooms and whether the basement was finished, as well as the amount of detail applicants are able to provide during their application.

How to volunteer

There are many organizations seeking volunteers as Calgary begins to focus on recovery and rebuilding. These include theYWCA of Calgary,Calgary Clean Up Facebook page,Volunteer CalgaryandYYC Helps.

The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre is also looking for volunteers as well as donations.

Tovolunteer for floodcleaningin High River, Alta.,go to a welcome centre at the local rodeo grounds or at Sheppard Family Park.

How to donate

The Canadian Red Cross Alberta Floods Response is accepting financial donations. Call 1-800-418-1111.

AIDS Calgary is taking donationsintended to help theSiksika First Nation. Donations canbe made at the AIDS Calgary office, located at16th Street and 10th Avenue S.W.

Canadians can also donate to the Salvation Army Alberta Flood Relief Effort at the website or call 1-800-725-2769.

Samaritan's Purse Canada says it will need volunteers to help in the cleanup and recovery of flooded homes. As well, people can donate money. Call 1-800-663-6500.

The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre is also seeking various goods and supplies including socks, underwear, hygiene supplies, bug spray, blankets and pillows, towels and plungers. Call 403-699-8260.

State of emergency updates

Get the latest on the state of emergency in Calgary on thecity's website.

For a list of Alberta communities still operating under local states of emergencycheck here.Alberta Health Services has a list of communitiesunderboil water orders.

Mental health

The province has appointed Dr. Michael Trew as Chief Mental Health Officer. He will be in charge of consolidating mental health services in Alberta and making sure that support is available to Albertans who need it.

Calgary residents can call the Access Mental Health phone line for information on mental health services. Call 403-943-1500.

Those located outside of Calgary can call the AHS Mental Health Helpline for support. Call 1-877-303-2642.

Alberta Health Services is reminding people to call 911 if they are having suicidal thoughts.

Power outages

Enmax has a full list of current outagesaffecting Calgary.

Road and bridge openings

Stability checks for pedestrian and traffic bridges have taken place three times since the flood. City officials say stability has been confirmed.

The city is also providing constant updates about roads on its website.

For moreinformation on highway closures in flood-affected areas,see theAlberta Transportation website.

Calgarians can call 311 for any flood-relatedupdates or visit thecity's websitefor the most up-to-date information.

Downtown parking

TheCalgary Parking Authorityis chargingagain for its lots and its on-street parking stalls in the downtown core. Until the state of emergency is lifted, officials say all the proceeds from on-street and parking lot revenue will go to flood relief efforts.

Calgary officialsexpect significant traffic congestion on city streets caused by the inability to synchronize traffic lights. Calgarians are being urged tocar poolor use transitin orderto improve traffic flow.

The city has set up "park and bike" spots around the city for commuters. More information, including a map, can be foundon the city's website.

Transit

For the latest on transit service, follow @calgarytransitor check for service updates atwww.calgarytransit.com.

Water use

Basic operations have resumed at the nearbyBonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant, after it was flooded and released raw sewage into the Bow River.

City officials say water quality in Calgary hasn't been affected, and there is no boil water advisory in place.

Outdoor water use restrictions were lifted at midnight on June 30 for all Calgary residents, including those in Airdrie, Chestermere and Strathmore.

How to return home safely

Thousands ofpeople affected by evacuation orders continue to do self-assessments of their homes.

Those heading home arebeingurged tofollowsafety guidelineswhen they re-enter.

Only attempt re-entry if the following criteriaare met:

• The road and sidewalkare dry.
• There is no floodwater on entry.
• Inspect the basement for water. If theres water above electrical outlets,leave the home immediately.

Residents who find problems and need services restored are now being asked to go to one of thethree remaining community support centres.

The community support centres are:

• Bowness Community Association, 7904 43 Ave N.W.
• Cliff Bungalow/Mission Community Association, 2201 Cliff St. S.W.
• Elbow Park Tennis Club, 800 34 Ave. S.W.

The support centres will be staffed by representatives of Calgary police, fire, water resources, waste and recycling, development and building approvals (inspections) and ATCO.

Calgarians can also make a request for municipal services through the city's 311 mobile app.

Calgary residents who live in apartments and condos should contact their building managers.

The Canadian Red Crossis askingCalgarians looking to connectwith family members who have been displaced to call1-866-696-6484.

For a comprehensive list of affected city services andevacuations, check theCity of Calgary blog here.

How to clean up safely

While floodwaters have receded, officials are now warning Calgary residents to be aware of the health risks associated with returning to flooded homes.

Alberta Health Services is warning homeowners to be careful of asbestos when removing flood-damaged materials from their homes.AHS says many houses built before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos inbuilding materials suchas drywall, ceiling tiles and insulation.

Residents are being asked to wash their hands thoroughly and often, and to wear respiratory masks.

If your home is being reconnected to power, make sure all appliances are powered off.

Electrical appliances should be unplugged as soon as residents return home.

Municipal services

City Hall re-opened onJuly4 withlimited services.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he plans to bring a proposal to councilfor atwo-week grace period on late property taxes, extending the time people could hand in without penalty until July 12.

Park closures

Many roads and trails inKananaskis Countryare closed as they are unstable and pose a safety risk.

Alberta Parks has information aboutprovincial park closures. They will offer full refunds for campground reservations cancelled between now and the end of July.

Parks Canada has re-openedBanff National Parkand has updatedinformation on its website.

Post Office

Canada Post has set updepots around the citywhere people in flood-affected areas can pick up their mail.

Schools, final exams

Report cards will be mailed to those who were unable to attend Thursday's half-day at Calgary's public and Catholic schools.

Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests are cancelled in Calgary and students receivedthe mark awarded by their teacher.

The Calgary Board of Education has cancelledGrade 12 diploma exams, but will make arrangements for those students who still want to write the exams.

• Find out where to write your diploma exams

The University of Calgary's four campuses are now open.

Classes also resumed at Mount Royal University and examinations have been rescheduled. For details, go to the universityswebsite.

Classes held on theBow Valley College campusand online are cancelled until further notice.

Emergency alerts

For a list of emergency alerts in Calgary and Alberta, check here:emergencyalert.alberta.ca.

Shelters

Evacuees withno place to stay can access help at Centre Street Church, 3900 2 St N.E., between1 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily.

People can take pets to the Animal Service Centre, at 2201 Portland St. S.E.

Recycling collection suspended

Blue cart collection service has been suspended in all Calgary communities until further notice. Residents are asked to store recyclable materials until collection resumes or take them to community recycling depots.

Other residential collection services will continue on usual collection days for communities not impacted by flooding.

The city's waste department is picking up garbage at least once a day in previously flooded neighbourhoods.Calgary's landfills will accept garbage and household wastefrom the flooding. Mud and slurry should not be dumped in the river, but taken to the Highfield/Bonnybrook Snow Dump Site at 1442 46 Ave S.E.

Courts, trials

The Calgary Court Centre and The Calgary Court of Appeal have re-opened. People with scheduled trials can go to theAlberta Justice websitefor more information.

Hospitals, surgeries

In Calgary, 24-hour urgent care services at the Sheldon M. Chumir centre have re-opened. The facility did not suffer flood water damage and has passed a building inspection.

For a list of which health-care centres are affected by flooding in other southern Alberta communities, including High River, Canmore and Sundre, check theAlberta Health website.

Libraries

The Central branches of theCalgary Public Librarywill be closed until further notice. All other librarybranches are open.

With the exception of the Central branch, libraries are now ready to accept returns of library materials.

Items with a due date of June 1 to 30 have had that due date extended to July 15. Fines and fees charged for late material and those with flood-related damage will be waived until further notice.

Events

The Epcor Centre for the PerformingArtshas reopened.

Organizers of the Calgary Stampedesaidthat the101st edition of the Stampedewill go ahead as scheduled from July 5-14. Some events at the Saddledome have been cancelled,including four concerts.

Shakespeare in the Park's production of Romeo andJuliet has relocated to the amphitheatre at MountRoyalUniversity.

Citizen and foreign services

The Harry Hays building downtown reopened on July 2 with all Government of Canada programs and services. The building is home to departments including the Passport Office, Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration and Canada Revenue Agency, and will be resuming normal operations at that time.