Alberta floods 2013

[Kat Stevens]

Hearing through the Sapper Net that none of the AEVs are rolling on this task, wtf?

 

[BurnDoctor]

Tough to watch from the high ground as the water gets closer to our house in NW Calgary.  A neighbor did an unauthorized recce past first responder lines late last PM and reported a "floor to ceiling aquarium" in his basement.

Just to be able to focus on something else and do some good I'd happily put my civi job aside for a couple of weeks and do any work, even totally unrelated to my MOSID, to lend a hand. I guess it's kind of past the sand-bag stacking phase, though.

Will be keeping an eye and ear out for opportunities within the CF relief effort.

Stay safe, fellow Southern Albertans.

 

[mariomike]

Sounds like good work for our special forces Med Techs after the CF.

Not sure how CAN-TF2 Calgary ( or TF1 Vancouver, TF4 Manitoba , or TF5 Halifax ) does their hiring.

But, CAN-TF3 ( Toronto ) HUSAR does not hire "off the street". Team members are selected from already serving members of TPS, TFS or T-EMS.
http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/service/husar.html
http://www.toronto.ca/wes/techservices/oem/husar/index.htm

HUSAR vacancies ( like all other Special Operations teams ) are filled by Paramedics from within the Department, through the "senior qualified"  process. *  ( This is seniority driven, and works differently than the "relative ability" process. )

* "The City shall assess applicants in order of seniority, until enough candidates have been identified to fill the posted position(s)."

Selection is closed to outside applicants. 

While waiting for "The Big One", TF3 Paramedics remain on 9-1-1 operations in the city.

The annual premium ( in addition to their regular salary ) for TF3 Paramedics is $425.00. ( There are also Standby and Call-back provisions. )

Although the premium is small ( you can collect more than one premium if you belong to more than one special team ), they are paid OT when they train on a day off, or deploy out of town.

The City set up a Family Support Unit (FSU) for when TF3 is on deployment:
http://www.tfspeersupport.org/can-tf3-family-support-unit

"This it turned out, was what initiated the FSU and we have been working on the continuous development of our role and look forward to working in conjunction with TFS, TEMS and TPS, The Red Cross and families of those deployed."

 

[Container]

Dive teams are heading out now.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Vancouver Island units are counting heads.

It's pretty easy really, all you have to do is walk out to the edge of the grow op and shout "who wants a Brownie?" at the top of your lungs.  ;D

 

[dimsum]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Stampede+officials+they+confident+2013+event+will+ahead/8565276/story.html

There's optimism, and then there's this.  I'm willing to take bets on whether or not Stampede will actually happen in two weeks.  :

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Hearing through the Sapper Net that none of the AEVs are rolling on this task, wtf?

Heard the same kat....but I did see zedels on low beds though....

 

[Kat Stevens]

I'm told nothing on tracks was sent out, other than dozers. If it's a
question of environmental impact, I just gotta watch the videos and shake my head.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Welcome to the new kinder gentler environmentally friendly Canadian Forces........ :facepalm:

 

[VIChris]

Vancouver Island units are counting heads.

It's pretty easy really, all you have to do is walk out to the edge of the grow op and shout "who wants a Brownie?" at the top of your lungs.  ;D

Bro, they got brownies on this gig? Excellent.

Yes, we had a staff check this week, but as mentioned, courses and taskings have claimed some members already.

On that note, if you're on course, and your home unit is tasked for something like the current dom ops, can you get home to help, or are you expected to stay on course? I'd have a hard time applying myself to most courses if my hometown was flooded or Struck by an earthquake.

 

[foresterab]

Fire crews with helicopters were sent out last Wednesday but only rappel crews...needed ability to access remote areas.  Helicopters hired from where ever but takes time to get the numbers needed together as they come from across Canada from their current job site.

Passed a bunch of equipment/troops heading south out of Edmonton on Saturday...everything from heavy duty trucks to old jeeps with the KFOR markings visible through the rust... can only imagine the demand for vehicles down there.

A big thing to consider...the Canadian Forces will be a major morale boost and confidence builder given the number of evacuations.  Not only do you have the public's trust that you are there to help with a purpose but your presence will help those evacuated know that all the abandoned houses are being looked after.    It's one of the major considerations we have to keep in mind when evacuating a community is also protecting the assets left behind and making sure nobody is looting etc...

 

[OldSolduer]

Here in the East (Winnipeg) we have done staff checks, but like most others our troops are away on summer training, staff on summer training or have full time jobs. Some are cops, some are lawyers and I even have a bug (virology type bugs)expert. He's the Bugle Major.

 

[ModlrMike]

No different than us, Jim. All our sailors are away on taskings and training by now. Last week we had about 6% of the unit on ground.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Some pix from the Army of the West Info-machine.

Also, if you're interested in updates, here are some links to:

• City of Calgary news/info blog (seems to consolidate a lot of muni resources here)
• City of Calgary's Twitter feed
• Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi's Twitter feed
• Alberta's Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Advisories and Updates page
• Calgary Police Service's Twitter feed

To everyone helping out - stay as safe as you can.

 

[medicineman]

Here in the East (Winnipeg) we have done staff checks, but like most others our troops are away on summer training, staff on summer training or have full time jobs. Some are cops, some are lawyers and I even have a bug (virology type bugs)expert. He's the Bugle Major.

Funnily enough, I wasn't staff checked from Ottawa...yet.  Was asked about a couple Reserve Brigade Ex's though in Aug.

MM

 

[George Wallace]

No different than us, Jim. All our sailors are away on taskings and training by now. Last week we had about 6% of the unit on ground.

It would not be the first time ever that a natural disaster took precidence over taskings and training.  Sorry, we can't fight that fire, we are in class, is not an option.  Sorry we can't go to war, all our troops are on Block Lve, doesn't cut it either.

 

[Edward Campbell]

It would not be the first time ever that a natural disaster took precidence over taskings and training.  Sorry, we can't fight that fire, we are in class, is not an option.  Sorry we can't go to war, all our troops are on Block Lve, doesn't cut it either.

While I agree with you, in principle, I doubt that this crisis will test our limits. See Old Tanker's comments about Alberta's capacity to look after itself. Yes it wants and needs some temporary, emergency help but this is, I suspect, not like the 1998 Ice Storm: I think Alberta is better prepared than were Ontario and Quebec and I doubt the crisis will be as long lived.

 

[Kirkhill]

While I agree with you, in principle, I doubt that this crisis will test our limits. See Old Tanker's comments about Alberta's capacity to look after itself. Yes it wants and needs some temporary, emergency help but this is, I suspect, not like the 1998 Ice Storm: I think Alberta is better prepared than were Ontario and Quebec and I doubt the crisis will be as long lived.

I think, with the crest at Med Hat passing and being lower than anticipated, the worst is behind Alberta now.  The water is starting to recede and the issue is clean up and that is managed by insurance companies and civvy contractors. 

There might be an opportunity for all those surplus RVs I see around the countryside to be mobilized.

 

[GAP]

One little issue that was mentioned today was that the insurance companies will not cover overland flood damage (maybe if you are grandfathered, but not otherwise) under their policies.

That's gonna make it an expensive mess....it's a good thing Calgary give huge support to the CPC and PC's.....gonna be hard to refuse the pleas knowing there is a federal election down the pipe....

 

[SeaKingTacco]

One little issue that was mentioned today was that the insurance companies will not cover overland flood damage (maybe if you are grandfathered, but not otherwise) under their policies.

That's gonna make it an expensive mess....it's a good thing Calgary give huge support to the CPC and PC's.....gonna be hard to refuse the pleas knowing there is a federal election down the pipe....

So we give government money to people to rebuild on flood plains?  How about this deal: we give you money to move off the flood plain.  You can move your house if it is worth saving and we plant trees where your house used to be and turn it into parkland.  Cheaper in the long run. I grant you that we cannot move the skyscrapers in downtown Calgary.  That locality is small enough to be defended with dikes and pumps.  Get moving.  Next flood (statistically) is 5-10 years away.