Flood Readiness & River Safety: Understand. Prepare. Stay Informed. Stay Safe.

With May long weekend known as Calgary's unofficial start to recreational water season and the risk of river flooding greatest between May 15 - July 15, we'd like to update Calgarians on flood readiness and also remind everyone of river dangers.



Understand
The City monitors river forecasts, soil moisture, rainfall and snow melt rates in the mountains. Current data shows mountain snowpack is at the low end of a normal range. Our 90 day precipitation is drier than average, but not rare. We could expect more precipitation between May and July due to El Nino.

New flood inundation maps and river flow triggers are available to help Calgarians understand their personal and business flood risks.

Prepare
The City is better prepared to manage and minimize the impacts of a future flood. We’ve developed a comprehensive plan that incorporates the recommendations of our Expert Management Panel, trained more people, stock piled materials, repaired eroded river banks, built temporary barriers and created new inundation maps.

Calgarians also play an important role in flood readiness and safety. Stay prepared, alert and at the ready by having an emergency plan and 72 hour kit.

Stay Informed
The City has tools and resources available to help Calgarians know their flood risk. Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for the latest information including flood advisories. You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter and download the Alberta Rivers: Data and Advisories mobile app.

Stay Safe
The City’s Partners in Water Safety want to remind all Calgarians where there’s water, there’s risk. Before hopping on boat or river raft:

• SCOUT the river for potential hazards,
• ASSESS the level of danger and,
• DECIDE if it’s safe to proceed.

City partnership successful at reducing youth crime, gang involvement

Today, The City released results from an independent study that confirm the Youth at Risk Development (YARD) program is reducing criminal activity and gang involvement among Calgary youth.

Launched in 2008, at-risk youth aged 10 to 17 are paired with social workers and police officers who provide mentorship and support.

“Knowing that our combined effort is making a difference in the lives of young Calgarians affirms that we are on the right path,” said Katie Black, Acting Director, Community & Neighbourhood Services.

The study sites a 41 per cent decrease in criminal charges among participants compared to youth not involved in the program.

“Investment in early intervention pays off tenfold, not only because the kids choose a path out of crime, but they also become productive adults. YARD works,” said Calgary Police Service Deputy Chief Trevor Daroux.

Visit Calgary.ca/YouthJustice to download a referral form for the program or view a full summary of the study results.

Downtown residential buildings and businesses return to normal operations

Downtown residential buildings and businesses are returning to normal operations today, as ENMAX successfully restored power to the downtown core at 5 a.m. this morning.

The area has been dealing with power outages since Oct. 11, when an underground fire located at 8 Street and 5 Avenue SW resulted in power loss to about 1,900 metered customers in 112 residential and commercial buildings.

“What started as a fire in a manhole became a major utility upgrade, major road closures and an effort to ensure the public safety and housing for approximately 5,000 residents,” said Ken Uzeloc, CEMA Director. 

“The past five days, my colleagues at The City of Calgary and our partner agencies have worked night and day to ensure that Calgarians could get around our city and have access to support services they needed until their power was restored.”

Information for returning residents and businesses

• Re-entry checklists for returning residents, building owners/managers and commercial businesses are available on Calgary.ca.
• For information on troubleshooting your telephone, cable TV or Internet service contact Shaw.
• Citizens who require any additional social assistance support should contact 2-1-1.
• Spoiled food items that are securely bagged to prevent leaks can be discarded in your facility’s usual garbage collection bin. If that bin is full, contact your property manager for bin removal or emptying. City of Calgary collection schedules are not affected, and regular pickup will occur according to your normal schedule. Should you have questions regarding private garbage collection service, please contact your property manager.
• Citizens or business owners/operators with concerns about their building should contact their building operator.
• Now that power has been restored, the Information Centre at Mewata Armoury will be closed at 9 p.m. this evening.

The City would also like to thank citizens and businesses who offered lodging, food, supplies to those residents displaced in the outage.

As a reminder, power outages can happen at any time. The City encourages residents to develop their own 72 hour emergency kit for such instances. A list of what should be included in a 72 Hour Emergency Kit is available at Calgary.ca/cema.

Many Calgarians work hard this Thanksgiving to keep the city operational and safe

An underground fire in the downtown core resulted in a power outage for approximately 5,000 Calgarians on Thanksgiving weekend.

While City crews work to restore power, Calgarians have come together, once again, offering couches to sleep on, washer and dryers to clean clothes, and washrooms to get clean and freshen up.

Below are just a few examples of ways that the community has come together. Follow the hashtag #yycthanks on Twitter to see more stories of what Calgarians are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Underground fire in downtown core

Saturday evening there was an underground fire in the downtown core which resulted in a power outage. The Emergency Operation Centre has been opened and The Calgary Emergency Management Agency is working with ENMAX and partners to assess the impact to affected residents and businesses.

Power currently remains out for 1,900 ENMAX customers and 12 intersections. Affected ENMAX customers are expected to experience outages for approximately four to seven days.

Damage to fiberoptic cables running through the affected area could lead to internet, phone and cable disruptions. If your landline is out of service and you require emergency assistance, use a mobile phone, or visit a nearby business or trusted neighbour.

Information for citizens affected by power outages
If you or someone you know is experiencing a power outage, please consider some of the following:

• For emergency or life threatening situations - call 911
• For non urgent health advice call Health Link Alberta at 1 866 408 5465.
• Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronic equipment you were using at the time of the outage - especially your stove or other cooking appliances.
• Keep one light switched on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Think safety! Do not use any gas or charcoal BBQs or devices as they can cause an increase of Carbon Monoxide gas which can result in serious and life threatening illness.
• The indoor use of candles should be avoided. Battery operated lights provide a better and safer light source.
• Generators should not be used indoors. Converse heat by keeping windows and doors closed, and paying special attention to young children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions.
• Use of a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you informed of important updates.
• Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to keep food cold for many hours. Most food will keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Dairy products should be discarded after six hours. Items in the freezer will last 12 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is and what kinds of food are stored inside.

Dog lovers invited to Working Dogs Day event

Come down to Bowmont Off-Leash Park between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 20, to meet working dogs from around the city and learn about responsible pet ownership.

Working Dogs Days will feature demonstrations from working dogs and their handlers from the Calgary Police Department, Calgary Fire Department, Animal & Bylaw Services, Calgary Search & Rescue Association, PADS Calgary (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society), PALS (Pet Access League Society), Canada Border Services Agency and RCMP Police Dog Services. Attendees can also learn about dog recall training and pet first aid.

Working Dogs Day is part of The City of Calgary’s Off-Leash Ambassador program which was launched in 2013. The program relies on volunteers to help promote the Responsible Pet Ownership bylaw and teach dog owners about positive pet interactions and safety. This is accomplished through education, demonstrations and discussions led by the ambassadors who act as positive role models in off-leash areas.

“The Off-Leash Ambassador program is a great example of community and volunteerism,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Once again, we see success when The City and its citizens collaborate —together, we ensure healthy and safe off-leash areas for Calgarians and their pets.”

Councillor Ward Sutherland, who is a long time community volunteer, will attend the event to show his support of the Program and meet the working dogs.

“An event that celebrates volunteers, specifically the ambassadors that support our off-leash parks, is wonderful. The free dog recall training, first aid and service dog demonstrations are a brilliant addition to the event and a great way to educate citizens on how to keep our off-leash parks safe and fun for all of us,” he said.

For more information about responsible pet ownership, up-coming Off-Leash Ambassador events and registering to become an Off-Leash Ambassador, visit calgary.ca/animalservices or follow Animal & Bylaw Services on Facebook.

Please note: the area where the event will be held has been cleaned of tree debris from the recent storm and has been deemed safe. However, we urge all event attendees to be mindful of potential hazards, look up, stay away from large trees and be aware of surroundings.

Submitted by Tara Norton-Merrin, Animal & Bylaw Services

Update on City response to September snow event

With power now restored to the majority of Calgarians and tree cleanup well underway, The City continues to work on the aftermath of an early snowfall.

Remaining Power Outages
Crews have worked quickly to restore service to as many as possible and are pleased to report that currently the power only remains off for approximately 1,800 customers. ENMAX is working directly with impacted households to restore service. Safety remains the priority concern and houses cannot be re-energized unless it is safe to do so. Additional crews from Edmonton service areas and contractors arrived Thursday to provide extra support to Calgary operations.

If power to an area has been restored but individual households still do not have service, repairs may be required to the individual connection point on the home itself.

Calgarians with a damaged connector (also called a “service masthead”) on their home need to hire a qualified tradesperson to complete repairs. Contractors are able to quickly apply for all necessary permits to get customers connected without delay. Calgarians remain responsible for ensuring all proper permits are obtained and should ensure their contractor has applied for the proper permits. This can be verified by contacting 311 or 403-268-5311. More information is available on Calgary.ca.

Trees and debris
Since September 9, approximately 3,830 tree emergencies were reported to 311 on both private and public property. The City remains focused on clearing those trees damaged prior to assessing any longer term impacts.

We are asking for the patience of all Calgarians as we continue cleanup efforts. The City also asks citizens to help friends and neighbours with their cleanup on private property if it is safe to do so and within their physical abilities. Please be safe when assisting others. Wear appropriate safety gear and call for help if downed branches or trees are near a power line. If it’s safe to do so:

• Collect and take tree debris directly to any of The City’s three City landfill sites and it will be accepted at no charge. The City will be mulching the debris for future use.
• Debris should be cut into no more than four foot lengths and stacked as neatly as possible close to where regular cart collection would take place. Do not block lanes, roads or sidewalks.
• Do not put branches and tree debris into black and blue collection carts. This debris clearing will operate as a separate program than regular cart collection. Put branches beside your black and blue carts.

When contacting 311, use an online solution if possible to avoid long wait times. Fill out the online form for fallen trees or download the City’s 311 mobile app for iPhone and Android to report a concern.

Residents who have already contacted the City with a tree-related complaint and nothing has changed, should avoid calling back. If a situation changes and poses an immediate danger, please call 911.

Impacted City Recreation Facilities
Recreation staff worked diligently through the day and evening to address issues at eleven arenas, aquatic facilities and Wildflower Arts Centre which were closed until Wednesday. All impacted facilities have now re-opened. Debris is also being picked up at City-operated golf courses that we aim to begin re-opening this weekend. Recreation operated athletic parks remain closed due to fallen trees and wet conditions and will be re-opened as debris is removed and conditions improve. Check our recreation facility status tool for the current status of all recreation facilities.

Due to the current closure of some City parks and pathways, outdoor events planned for this weekend may need to be relocated or cancelled. The City will continue to work with event organizers to advise of any impacts to public events.

More information updates are available at www.calgary.ca.

Tips for power interruptions

The City of Calgary continues to respond to the effects of the recent heavy snowfall. Public safety is our top priority.

Some Calgarians remain without power, and ENMAX is working quickly to restore power to affected areas. Debris from broken trees is still present and City crews are working throughout the night to clean up.

If you or someone you know is still experiencing a power outage, please consider some of the following:

• For emergency or life threatening situations - call 911
• For non urgent health advice call Health Link Alberta at 1 866 408 5465.
• Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronic equipment you were using at the time of the outage.
• Keep one light switched on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Think safety! Do not use any gas or charcoal BBQs or devices as they can cause an increase of Carbon Monoxide gas which can result in serious and life threatening illness.
• The indoor use of candles should be avoided. Battery operated lights provide a better and safer light source.
• Generators should not be used indoors. Converse heat by keeping windows and doors closed, and paying special attention to young children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions.
• With temperatures expected to hover just below 0 degrees Celsius, often wearing a hat or sweater and use of a blanket can provide enough warmth to keep you comfortable.
• Use of a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you informed of important updates.
• Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to keep food cold for many hours. Most food will keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Dairy products should be discarded after six hours. Items in the freezer will last 12 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is and what kinds of food are stored inside.

Updates on ENMAX outages can be found at www.enmax.com/outages. City service updates can be accessed through www.calgary.ca.

Snowfall tree debris management

Recent snowfall has caused damage to many trees throughout the city, leaving tree debris on both private property and City property.

All three City landfills – Spyhill, Shepard and East Calgary – are accepting tree debris from the snowstorm at no charge until further notice. Customers arriving at the scalehouse should identify that they are bringing tree debris and must not mix the debris with any other waste material for it to be accepted free of charge.

Beginning Saturday, September 13, citizens can also access all 33 of The City's leaf and pumpkin drop-off locations to dispose of damaged tree limbs.

Alternatively, tree debris can be cut into 4-foot pieces in length and stacked beside waste and recycling carts to be picked up with regular collection or at a later date, depending on our resources.

To help keep regular garbage and recycling pickup on schedule, and to avoid damaging City equipment, we ask that Calgarians do not put tree debris in their blue, black or green carts.

Calgarians may notice a disruption with City services such as power outages in City facilities and delayed garbage and recycling collection due to tree debris blocking back lanes. We thank Calgarians for their patience as City crews work to manage all effects of the recent snowfall.

Please be safe as many drooping tree limbs still pose a safety threat. We continue to work on a debris management plan and will communicate with Calgarians later today how we will be proceeding. At this time, we are still focused on emergency response to fallen tree debris on roads and impacts from power outages throughout the city. Safety is our current priority.

Contact information for snowfall-related emergencies

Due to the recent snowfall and its impact on trees that have not yet shed their leaves, City personnel at our 311 and 911 call centres are responding to high call volumes to support Calgarians. Please see the information below to help identify who to contact in various situations.

CALL 911 to report life threatening emergencies including:
- Power lines that are sparking or on the ground

CONTACT 311 to report fallen tree limbs including:
- Trees leaning on power lines
- Tree emergencies, including limbs that have fallen on roadways, houses and vehicles
- Every fallen tree limb that is reported will be recorded in our database and placed on a map to determine priorities
- Download the 311 mobile app for iPhone and Android or use the online form to report your concern without any wait time

ENMAX is aware of power outages across the city
- Stay informed on power outage status at enmax.com/outages or receive updates on the ENMAX Power Trouble line at 403-514-6100
- If a tree touches a power line from a power pole to your house, or to report your damaged power line, call 403-258-8232
- If your power is out and you need to report a 911 emergency
          1. Use a landline plugged into a phone jack
          2. Use a cell phone.
          3. If your cell-phone does not have battery charge, go to a trusted neighbour’s house, nearest emergency station (Police/Fire), or commercial establishment.

City continues to manage fallen/damaged trees from early snowfall

Due to the recent and anticipated overnight snowfall, The City of Calgary has been working to manage concerns regarding fallen/damaged tree limbs, including damage assessment and tree removal.

Trees that pose a risk to public safety will be the main priority. Currently 311 is experiencing higher than normal call volumes and we appreciate your patience as we work to prioritize our efforts.

What to do

• If a tree has fallen and poses a life threatening emergency or if a power line is sparking or on the ground, please stay away and contact 911
• If your tree has fallen on your private property and does not pose a danger, contact a local arborist
• To report a City tree that has fallen on your property, or any other fallen tree on City property such as a pathway, road or sidewalk, please use the 311 mobile app for iPhone and Android under the category "Report concern not listed" or use the online form to report your concern without any wait time
• ENMAX is aware of power outages throughout the city. Find updated information on power outages at enmax.com/outages or via the Trouble Line at 403-514-6100
• Brush and debris may be taken to any of The City's three landfills free of charge

Additional Information

• Trees blocking highly used traffic and pedestrian areas, access routes for emergency vehicles, or those at risk of falling are also a priority.
• Trees down on back lanes are the responsibility of the adjacent homeowner to remove.
• After a storm event like this, it’s a good time to inspect your own trees for storm damage. Consider hiring a company that employs International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborists to perform the inspection. For more information and other tips, visit calgary.ca/trees
• All three City landfills will accept tree debris from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Garbage and recyclables will not be accepted after 5:00 p.m. Tipping fees continue to be waived for all tree debris that is not mixed with other garbage.
• Beginning Saturday, September 13, citizens can access all 33 of The City's leaf & pumpkin drop-off locations to dispose of damaged tree limbs.

Partners in River Safety say ‘stay safe and stay off rivers’

To ensure everyone is safe while enjoying our parks, rivers and waterways, there are still river advisories in effect for both the Bow and Elbow Rivers. 

“We advise that people continue to stay off of the rivers, as the water is still has poor visibility, making it dangerous for even experienced paddlers, kayakers and rafters,” said Deputy Chief Ken Uzeloc of the Calgary Fire Department (CFD).

“We do not want anyone to be harmed or to take unnecessary risks.”

Fast river flow and poor visibility

The advisories are in effect because of the many new and unknown hazards in and around the rivers which are a result of the 2013 flood. A second advisory was added by CFD a few weeks ago due to rainfall and melting snow pack which resulted in faster river flow and poor visibility. 

CFD Aquatic Rescue team members were on the river to show how difficult it is navigate the Bow with changes to the river flow caused by last year’s flood. The changed river flow now pushes boaters into the Louise Bridge pillar. 

More safety info on calgary.ca

For more information on river safety the Calgary Fire Department has information on safety in around our rivers and Animal & Bylaw Services has important tips for safe rafting.

CFD, Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Animal & Bylaw Services (ABS), make up Calgary’s Partners in River Safety. 

Submitted by: Bridget Cox, Calgary Fire Department

Remembering the 2013 June flood; response, recovery and the road ahead - Calgary Police Service

Police Chief Rick Hanson explains how our community came together to respond to the worst natural disaster in our city’s history.



From the evacuation of approximately 100,000 Calgarians in an exceptionally short amount of time, to the recovery efforts that saw Calgarians from every corner pitch in to do their part; members of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) saw our community band together. Working with emergency partners, CPS was able to help the city’s most vulnerable and ensure those impacted by the flood found assistance during their time of need.

The patience, understanding and cooperation of all Calgarians during this time, was of tremendous assistance to the Calgary Police Service, allowing for us to keep our city safe.

Visit calgary.ca/floodinfo for 2013 flood facts, photos, infographics and more.

Calgary’s Partners in River Safety share May long weekend message

May long weekend typically kicks off Calgary's recreational river activity season. The Partners in River Safety will share information on how the river has changed since the 2013 flood and how these changes impact river safety.

Tune in to our live stream of this message (right here on the blog) streaming in from the Louise Bridge at 9:30 a.m.



The Partners in River Safety, including Deputy Chief Uzeloc from the Calgary Fire Department, Dorlene Hemm from Animal & Bylaw Services, and Inspector O'Brien from the Calgary Police Service, as well as Deputy Chief Sampson will be on location this morning, along with the Calgary Fire Department’s Aquatic Rescue boat.

Be prepared for any kind of disaster or emergency

Disasters can strike at any time, so being prepared is extremely important. Find out how you can prepare for emergencies of all kinds at the fifth annual Disaster Alley this Sunday, May 4. Hosted by the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), the event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McMahon Stadium (1817 Crowchild Trail N.W.) rain or shine.

Come out and see how first responders and partner agencies prepare for emergencies and disasters such as floods, tornadoes, train derailments, airport shutdowns, power outages and severe summer and winter storms. And find out how youcan be prepared.

“I recommend everyone come down to Disaster Alley; emergencies can occur quickly and preparation is the key to protecting yourself and your loved ones,” says Tom Sampson, Deputy Chief of CEMA. “Know the risks, make a plan, and have a 72-hour emergency kit. It could save your life.”

Public transit recommended

This informative event is free and fun for the whole family and will include some of Calgary’s favourite food trucks. Parking is limited, so taking public transit is recommended.

CEMA will be handing out Household Emergency Action Plan booklets at the event, along with a checklist of what you need to include in a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit.

“The first 72 hours of a disaster are the busiest for emergency services,” says Deputy Chief Sampson. “If you are not in distress, you can help by taking care of yourself and your family for the first 72 hours, which will free up first responders to help those who need it most.”

Mayor Nenshi to speak at 1 p.m.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and other dignitaries will address the crowd at 1 p.m. Before and after, you are encouraged to visit with the more than 30 different exhibitors who will have interactive displays and demonstrations set up in the east parking lot of McMahon Stadium.

Sit inside an official Calgary Police Service (CPS) cruiser or check out the CPS HAWCs helicopter. The CPS canine unit and mounted patrol will also be on hand to showcase how they respond to emergencies.

The STARS helicopter will be there and also the Calgary Fire Department’s Aquatic Team.

Building a culture of preparedness

Disaster Alley is Calgary’s kick-off event for Emergency Preparedness Week (May 4-10), which is a national initiative designed to build a culture of preparedness in Canada.

CEMA works with other City departments, corporations, communities and non-profit agencies to facilitate a coordinated response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters. CEMA also works to increase our capacity to be prepared, become less vulnerable, and recover more quickly from a disaster, leading to a stronger, more resilient community.

For more information on Disaster Alley 2014, visit Calgary.ca/disasteralley.

City crews working to re-open east-bound Memorial Drive

Just after 4 a.m. this morning, Calgary Fire crews were called to Memorial Drive and Centre Street for reports of water cascading from the underside of the upper bridge deck of the Centre Street Bridge.Traffic on eastbound Memorial Drive between 5A Street and Edmonton Trail have been rerouted to single lane traffic on westbound Memorial Drive.

The lower deck of the Centre Street Bridge is currently closed to traffic however the upper deck remains open to north and southbound traffic. City of Calgary Water Services has successfully shut down the source of the water flow. Some homes in the area will have disrupted water services.

More information to follow.

City Employees Recognized by Province for 2013 Flood Efforts

The Province of Alberta’s “Heroes of the Flood” program gave Albertans the chance to recognize people who went above and beyond to help their friends, family and neighbours recover from the June 2013 floods.  More than 1,300 Albertans were nominated – including a number of City of Calgary employees.

Elbow Park during flood recovery

“I’ve always been incredibly proud of my colleagues at The City of Calgary, but I’ve never been more proud of them than I have been over the past eight months,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The flood taught us how lucky we are to live in a place where government works so well. From bus drivers to road builders to first responders to garbage collectors, all of my colleagues demonstrated great dedication, compassion, and expertise during the floods and beyond as we rebuild and strengthen Calgary. Our city is filled with great public servants, so I am not surprised that some of my colleagues were nominated for this honour.”

Three of those employees are front-line staff from Waste & Recycling Services: Chris Kostyniuk, Jason Davis and Jolen DiGirolamo. They moved thousands of kilograms of flood waste off our streets- helping to keep Calgarians healthy and our streets clean and safe.

 Jason Davis Waste & Recycling Services

Wayne Burndred, Superintendent in Waste & Recycling Services, explained “Jason Davis worked hard to help accommodate the residents and look after his staff.” Jason remembers “[working with] Roads, Fire, Police – everybody was getting dirty together.  We had police officers and firemen helping load trucks and shutting down roads so we could load debris and keep volunteers and people safe. We knew what we needed to do; everybody stepped up and got it done.”

Jolen Digirolamo, Waste & Recycling Services

Jolen Digirolamo collected flood waste, working 16-hour shifts for six straight days. “The public was awesome,” he recalls. “When I pulled up in Stanley Park they were congratulating me. They hadn’t seen a garbage truck in days. I had a swarm of people rush the truck because they were so happy.” Jolen takes away positive memories, saying “it felt great seeing how a city helps each other in a disaster. It was awesome to see Calgary come together.”

The flood directly impacted Chris Kostyniuk, as some of his family was heavily hit; but his job as a City employee was front and centre.  “It was not only a privilege but a duty to help out the people of this city we serve,” he says.  “If it ever happens again (**Knocks on wood**) I will be there to help.  This is our city. This is my privilege.”

Going forward, each of the 1300+ nominees will receive a letter and certificate from the Government of Alberta; the Province will pick the top 100 and the top 100 heroes of the flood will be announced in the summer.

For more info, check out a complete list of the nominees and a PDF poster of all the nominees.

Calgary’s 9-1-1 centre prepares to offer Text with 9-1-1 for the DHHSI Community

One year ago today the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued a directive to all wireless service providers to implement the necessary infrastructure making it possible for the deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired (DHHSI) population to text message with 9-1-1. Today marks the deadline for that work to be completed and the wireless service providers have now handed the reins to 9-1-1 centres across the country to make their necessary changes.

Work is already underway at The City of Calgary Public Safety Communications (PSC) and it is hoped the new Text with 9-1-1 (T9-1-1) service will be available to Calgary’s deaf and hard or hearing community in spring 2014.

“Currently, the only way for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals to communicate with 9-1-1 is through the Teletypewriter (TTY) system, which was brought into use in the 1960s. We are happy that we will be able to offer them an updated service that will allow them better access to our emergency services,” said PSC Commander Steve Dongworth.

“We recognize this has been a long time coming and this community has been very patient. Our centre has made it a priority to get it up and running as soon as possible. We are very proud that we will be the first in Alberta to offer this service and amongst the first in Canada.”

PSC has started working with deaf and hard of hearing serving organizations and will continue to do so over the coming months to educate their members on what to expect from the service. Once the service is available in Calgary, all DHHSI individuals with a cell phone subscription will be able to register for the free service.

Once registered, a DHHSI person requiring emergency services will still dial 9-1-1 on their cell phone however, the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) will receive an indicator telling them to communicate with the caller via text messaging.

T9-1-1 will not be available for members of the general public. Voice calling remains the best and most effective way to access 9-1-1 services by a person that is not deaf, hard of hearing or with speech impairment. During an emergency, time is of the essence and talking enables faster communication than texting, and there is a small chance that text messaging could be delayed.  Text to 9-1-1 for the public at large may be available at some time in the future.

For more information and updates on the T9-1-1 initiative please visit www.Textwith911.ca. 

City of Calgary receives two Awards for Municipal Excellence

The City of Calgary received two 2013 Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence today:

1. The Safe Communities Award goes to the Multi-Agency School Support Team, for their work on early intervention of at-risk youth.

2. An Innovation Award Honourable Mention goes to the 311 Mobile App for being the first of its kind in a municipal context in Alberta.

The Safe Communities Award emphasizes law enforcement and prevention of criminal activity, including addressing route causes and providing learning opportunities to high risk groups. The Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST) is a partnership between the Calgary Police Service, Community & Neighbourhood Services, the Calgary Board of Education, the Calgary Catholic School District and Alberta Health Services.

MASST teams consist of a police officer and City social worker based in various Calgary schools. They work directly with children, their families, schools and community agencies to identify problems quickly and deliver prevention and intervention services to children aged 5-12 years. A Social Return on Investment evaluation has shown that MASST is making an impact on the lives of children in Calgary.

“We are very honoured our MASST program was selected for the Safe Communities Award,” says Community & Social Development Manager, Cheryl Joynt. “If we intervene early in the lives of children demonstrating at-risk behaviour, we know we have a better chance of making a difference to that child’s long-term success – and that benefits everyone.”

“Thank you to the Provincial government for acknowledging the importance of early intervention programs such as MASST,” says Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson. “MASST pairs a police officer and social worker to work directly with at-risk youth and their families. By addressing risky behaviour early, we are able to steer kids away from crime to where their chances of success are far greater.”

The Innovation Award recognizes original ideas that provide creative solutions for improved services. The 311 Mobile App allows citizens to submit and track the status of service requests with their smartphones. When citizens report something like a pothole, they can attach a photo and use their GPS function to allow the app to detect the location. The information, attached photo and location citizens provide allow City employees to assess, prioritize and efficiently respond to requests.

“I’m proud that my colleagues at The City are being recognized for ingenuity in making services more accessible to citizens,” says Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “The 311 Mobile App contributes to the transformation of government, and it provides a quick and cost effective way for citizens to directly improve their community.”

The awards were presented on November 21 at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association conference in Calgary. The Minister’s Awards for Municipal Excellence involve a rigorous process of application, documentation and review, and the awards are open to municipalities across Alberta.