The investments made since 2013 mean that High River is significantly better protected and better prepared than ever before. Residents can take confidence in knowing that:

• The flood mitigation system is complete.
• The community has modern, engineered flood protection infrastructure.
• Protection standards exceed the flood levels experienced in 2013.
• The Town continues to maintain and monitor critical infrastructure.

While no community can eliminate flood risk entirely, High River has taken substantial steps to reduce risk and improve resilience. Emergency planning and preparedness remain ongoing priorities.

For homeowners, the completed flood mitigation system represents a significant investment in community safety and long-term resilience.

Property owners should continue to maintain appropriate insurance coverage and stay informed about provincial policies and insurance requirements. At the same time, residents can be reassured that High River's flood protection infrastructure has been designed using modern engineering standards and extensive flood modelling.

The Town's Renewal team has worked alongside staff and contractors on projects that make High River one of the most flood-protected communities in North America.

• 2023 Flood Mitigation Letter

In simplest terms, a dike is a large wall or embankment built to keep water where it belongs.

Think of it like this: If you put a small edge around a flower bed to keep water from spilling out, that's the same idea on a much larger scale.

When the river rises, the dike acts as a barrier. It is built higher than the normal water level, so when water rises during heavy rains, snowmelt, or storms, it stays on one side of the dike instead of the water coming into our community.

The Flood Gate is a key component of High River's flood mitigation system and plays an important role in protecting the downtown area during high-water events.

Located at the Centre Street Bridge, the Flood Gate was designed to address one of the lowest points along Centre Street. Without it, rising river water could potentially flow through this area and into downtown High River.

When there is a risk of flooding, the Flood Gate can be closed either manually or using its hydraulic operating system. Once activated, the gate effectively raises the height of the Centre Street Bridge, creating a barrier that prevents river water from travelling down Centre Street and into the community.

Instead of entering the downtown area, floodwaters are redirected along the Flood Gate and surrounding berms, across the Wallaceville area, and safely back toward the river system.

In simple terms, the Flood Gate acts like a movable section of the Town's flood protection network. It remains open during normal conditions but can be quickly closed when needed to help keep floodwaters out of critical areas and protect homes, businesses, infrastructure, and community services.

Yes. The completed mitigation system was specifically designed to protect against a repeat of the 2013 flood event with an additional safety margin of 1 metre above anticipated water levels.

Individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours. The following steps will assist you in building your preparedness plan:

• Download the Alberta Rivers data and advisories app or visit rivers.alberta.ca for more information.
• Maintain an emergency kit stocked with supplies such as water, food, battery-powered/crank radio/flashlight, extra batteries or Weatheradio.
• Collect any important documents such as passports, birth certificates, banking information, and insurance papers and store them in a safe place in an above-ground location.
• If you have a vehicle, keep the tank full in case fuel stations lose power or close. Keep a vehicle kit and include an extra phone charger, with necessary adapters.

Follow the Town of High River on social media, check highriver.ca regularly and make sure to download the Alberta Emergency Alert app for critical, life-saving alerts.