The Alberta Goverenment provided an update yesterday (Apr.28) on the spring flooding in Alberta. 

The province continues to respond to flooding in Fort McMurray and Mackenzie County. States of local emergency remain in effect in both communities. 

Current situation 

Flooding, due to ice jams on the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers in Fort McMurray and the Peace River in Mackenzie County, have led to evacuation orders for some residents of Fort McMurray, Fort Vermilion and Tallcree First Nation at Beaver Ranch. 

Fort McKay First Nation has activated their emergency management committee, although there is no flooding in the community at this time. 

Evacuation orders 

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo issued a mandatory evacuation order for the entire community of Draper, Longboat Landing, Waterways, Ptarmigan Trailer Park and the Taiga Nova Eco-Industrial Park, and the entire lower townsite of Fort McMurray, except for the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre and Grayling Terrace. Access to the lower townsite is closed. 

Mackenzie County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents within the Hamlet of Fort Vermilion who reside east of 50th Street, north of the golf course, River Road, and Boreal Housing and all of North Vermilion (Buttertown). 

Tallcree First Nation at Beaver Ranch is impacted by flooding and is being evacuated. 

Flooding is also expected in Little Red River Cree Nation. An evacuation alert was issued April 27. 

Road closures 

Highway 63 remains open at this time. 

Highway 88, northwest of Fort Vermilion, is closed to traffic due to flooding of the Peace River. Residents south of the Peace River can use Highway 88 to travel south. Residents north of the Peace River can use Highway 58 to travel west and then Highway 35 to travel south. 

Please visit https://511.alberta.ca for the latest information. 

Drinking water and wastewater facilities 

Fort McMurray’s wastewater treatment plant has been evacuated, as the access road is flooded. It remains operational and is being monitored and operated remotely. 

Due to reports of discoloration in tap water, Fort McMurray and Alberta Health Services have issued a boil water advisory for all of Fort McMurray and rural hamlets of Anzac, Draper, Gregoire Lake Estates, Fort McMurray First Nation 46, and Saprae Creek Estates. 

The Peace River flood has caused a disruption in the water supply for the Hamlet of Fort Vermilion. 

The raw and treated water truck fill station in the Hamlet of La Crete and the Buffalo Head Prairie truck fill station are closed until further notice.  Water is currently being hauled from the La Crete distribution line in order to meet water demands within the Hamlet of Fort Vermilion. 

Water usage is restricted to essential use only. The Fort Vermilion water treatment plant truck fill station is inaccessible, as it is located within the mandatory evacuation area. 

A boil water advisory has not been issued for Fort Vermillion at this time but will be issued if conservation of drinking water and essential use is not practiced. 

How Albertans can help 

Albertans who live in affected areas should look for updates from their local government regarding evacuations and closures and download the Alberta Emergency Alert app. For the latest information on river conditions, visit rivers.alberta.ca or download the Alberta Rivers app. 

Click here for the full update.