Flood Planning

For real-time updates and advisories, visit the Alberta Rivers site:

Alberta’s current river flow

Alberta Emergency Alert (AEA) is the alerting system available in Alberta that provides critical information about developing and immediate disasters. The Town uses the AEA to provide information on developing emergencies, serious alerts and local emergency notifications in Okotoks. Alerts are distributed through various means: radio, television, websites, Twitter, Facebook and the Alberta Emergency Alert App. 

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When water levels rise in the Sheep Rivers, it’s important to keep a safe distance from the banks. Fast-moving water can cause erosion and make the ground unstable—even if it looks solid. That goes for kids and pets too!

Be prepared to take care of you and your family for at least 72 hours:

• Know the risks in your community and the most appropriate way to respond to them. Call Emergency Services at 403-938-4066 to find out more about Okotoks’ emergency plans and for advice on identifying the risks in this area.
• Make a plan for what your family will do, who they will contact and where they will go in the event of an emergency. Practice your emergency plan regularly. More information is provided below.
• Prepare a kit - put together a 72-hour kit with enough non-perishable food, water, medication, warm clothing and comfort items for all family members. You should make a ready-to-go kit in case you need to evacuate your home quickly and always have an emergency kit  in every vehicle used by your family members.
• Be informed before and during any emergency by learning where to access local information and emergency officials, tuning in to media and staying connected with your family, friends and neighbours.

Include your entire family when considering how personal safety and the safety of the property, house and animals should be secured in the event of an emergency.

• Include arrangements for family members with special needs, such as the disabled and elderly who use special medical equipment, in your plan.
• Make arrangements for your family pet(s) in your planning.
• Plan how your family will stay in contact if separated by a disaster or emergency.
• Plan and practice a flood-evacuation route with your family.
• Post emergency telephone numbers by every phone in your home.
• Teach children how and when to call fire, police, and emergency medical services, and which local radio station (Eagle 100.9 FM) to tune into for emergency information.
• Prepare an emergency kit for the home and for each vehicle. Maintain and replenish the kits regularly and make sure everyone knows where they are stored.
• Learn your neighbourhood and community’s evacuation routes, as some hazards may force you to leave your home.
• Visit our Emergency Preparedness page to learn more about how you can prepare your family.

When protecting a home or basement from flooding, start with the outside of the home.

• A typical lot should be graded to allow water to naturally drain away from the foundation and basement walls and into a landscape feature such as a rain garden, porous rock, or a native plant garden. Water should not be directed onto neighbouring properties.
• If the lot is not properly graded or the soil has settled, build up the ground around the house, and do not plant within 1.8 metres, or six feet of the backfilled area.
• Examine outside sidewalks, patios, decks, window wells and driveways. They can settle over time and cause water to drain towards the home.
• Ensure downspouts are directed away from the house, and water is not pooling beside the foundation or windows. Downspouts should not be connected to the home’s weeping tile or sanitary sewer system.
• Eavestroughs should be checked for debris regularly, particularly if a nearby tree is dropping leaves.
• If weeping tiles or a drainage area is inadequate, consider building a rain capture tank. This will reduce the amount of water flowing onto the property and the water can be used for irrigation.
• Consider flood proofing beyond the house. Check the garage and storage sheds and be sure any potential contaminants such as pesticides or fertilizers are on a shelf or in a water proof container so they cannot dissolve in floodwaters.
• Consider what precautions to take to safeguard pets in the event of a flood.

Inside the home, there are a number of measures for reducing the risk and effects of flooding:

• Cut back on high water usage during wet weather conditions. The less water added to the drainage system, the better.
• Have a plumber install a backflow prevention device in the sewer service connection (contact a building inspector at 403-938-8914 for more information). This device will prevent sewage that has backed up in the sewer mains from flowing into the home via the service connection.
• Install a sump pit drainage system which includes a pit, a sump pump and a pump discharge pipe. The sump pump discharge pipe should drain into an area of the yard where the water can be absorbed, or to a designated drainage area.
• Ensure sump pumps are cleaned and tested each spring.
• Store important documents and irreplaceable personal belongings in a portable, fire proof and waterproof container.
• Prepare a bag to grab and go, including medications, food, water and a first aid kit.
• Keep a portable radio with spare batteries on hand to listen to emergency information if the power is out.

The following procedures are meant to minimize damage and hardship during a flooding emergency:

• During rainy conditions, monitor the Town website, social media channels and local media sources such as the radio (Eagle 100.9 FM broadcasts locally) for important weather information and safety instructions.
• If requested to leave the area, do so immediately and follow instructions issued by emergency personnel.
• Inform personnel if there is a neighbour who may need additional help—particularly the elderly.

In the event of an evacuation, do the following if time and safety permits:

• Secure your home. Move essential items to an upper floor and bring in outdoor furniture.
• Disconnect all electrical appliances and elevate any which are at ground level. If instructed by local authorities, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve.
• Fill bathtubs, sinks and jugs with clean water in case water becomes contaminated.
• If you have a well pump system or sewage lift pump, turn the power off.
• Avoid running taps, using toilets, or anything which results in additional wastewater entering the system, as it can easily cause an overload.
• Don’t forget your pets; provide your pet with access to elevated spaces or counters.
• Ensure any chemicals which could contaminate the water are elevated.
• Prepare a bag with essential items including medications and a first aid kit.
• Move to the second floor if caught by suddenly rising water.
• Do not walk through moving water. It takes only as little as six inches of moving water to knock you off your feet, and it is difficult to see what is below.
• If a road is barricaded, it is for safety purposes. Choose another direction or roadway.
• Do not drive in flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your vehicle, abandon it and move to higher ground if it is safe. One foot of water will float many types of vehicles.
• Watch for downed power lines, damaged roads, or fallen objects on the road.
• Stay out of flood areas until the emergency personnel give permission to return.
• Reduce potable water use wherever possible. For example, don’t run dishwashers or washing machines. This will help reduce the strain on the water treatment system. Floods cause additional silt to build up in the system resulting in it having to work harder to produce water.

• Ensure the house is safe before entering. Check the foundation, the roof, nearby trees or other overhangs to be sure they are intact.  
• Contact a building inspector if there is damage (403-938-8914).
• Inform the insurance company of any damage as soon as possible and keep the receipts for any emergency repairs or clean up needed.
• Photograph or video tape the damage to support insurance claims.
• Have the power and gas supplies checked by a professional electrician or gas plumber before turning them back on.
• Check for sewage and water line damage prior to using toilets and taps. Call a plumber if damage is suspected.
• Ensure water sources such as wells, cisterns, dugouts and livestock water is checked by the health authority for contaminants and clean or treat as needed.
• Clean, disinfect and dry all wet surfaces as soon as possible to prevent mold.
• Throw away any food, including canned goods, that has come in contact with flood water.
• Check the references and qualifications for any clean-up or repair contractors before hiring.

Five stations along the Sheep River within Town boundaries are set up and checked on a regular basis. The frequency is dependent on the severity of the flood event at the time.

The outfalls with backflow protection are checked and the backflow devices are cleaned to ensure they will function properly. This occurs until the river rises to the point where the devices are submerged and not accessible for maintenance.

Sandbagging of catch basins and manholes in low-lying areas are done when river levels are such that river water is on the surface. This is designed to minimize water backing up the storm sewer system into these areas.

Pumping will then be required to deal with surface storm water from rainfall that collects in the low-lying areas.

When flooding into the Sheep River Park is imminent, the water supply wells and treatment plant are monitored on a 24-hour schedule.

An water services operator will be on site 24 hours per day at the plant monitoring treatment quality and adjusting plant processes depending on the turbidity level changes.

Securing the Sheep River Valley parks and pathways from public access is critical to ensuring the public’s safety. Open Spaces will close parks and pathways as the severity of the flood event dictates.