Calgary has declared a local state of emergency, but what does that mean?

The gloomy season has arrived and Mother Nature has come out swinging. In response to this week’s heavy rain, Calgary has issued a local state of emergency – but what exactly does that mean in this particular situation?

DON’T PANIC

For starters – while it may sound frightening, a local state of emergency is not meant to scare you; this 14-day declaration is a just precaution the city is taking to ensure everyone’s safety quickly and more efficiently.

As many of you may remember, the last time we saw weather like this was in June of 2013 and times got tough – but we learned a lot about how to navigate a situation like this.

“At the City of Calgary, we learned many important lessons when we endured major flooding,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek in a press release. “Today, we have flood mitigation measures in place that put us in a better position than 10 years ago.”

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CALGARY IS TAKING ACTION

By declaring a state of emergency, officials now have the power to write local orders and deal with city-specific challenges almost immediately, according to the city’s website.

From securing supplies to running essential services, they will now be able to use every tool in their box quicker – and when time is of the essence, this will come in handy!

“I realize that this weather event may cause fear and anxieties to arise for Calgarians, especially for those who have lived through flooding before,” Gondek said.

“Let me reassure you that you are in good hands and we will continue to ensure communications are clear and frequent,” so – remember to breathe, stay alert and help each other out.

For more information on Calgary’s state of Local Emergency and tips on what you can do to prepare, you can visit their website here.

We can get through almost everything. Hell or high water.