It is a rare occasion that Cypress County has to put in motion its regional emergency management plan, an agreement between the county, the City of Medicine Hat, and Redcliff, that coordinates all emergency services under one entity should an emergency take place.
On Friday morning, as raging waters rose throughout the southeast part of the county, the plan was quickly put into place. Cypress County emergency services and its volunteer firefighters, Medicine Hat firefighters and rescue members, the RCMP, Alberta Health Services, the local branch of the Canadian Red Cross, and public works crews from both municipalities put the plan into action and adopted their roles needed for the immediate efforts.
Despite the chaos amid the rising waters in many locations throughout the area, the emergency management team ran the efforts like a well-greased wheel. Like any good plan, each member knew their role, kept the communication lines open and worked together to do what needed to be done at the moment.
From rescue efforts and evacuations, to traffic control and shutting off the utilities, the work was done in a quick and efficient manner. It is fortunate that no person lost their life from the flood waters and perhaps it is partly because of the rapid, efficient response of the emergency management team. Some members of this team, the members of the Irvine volunteer fire department in particular, responded despite the fact their own homes were being flooded at the time.
The coordinated efforts of the entire team needs to be commended for a job well done in the handling of this catastrophic event, unlike any other that has been seen in the area. Their hard work, commitment to the people of the county, and the willingness to risk their own safety for the sake of another can not go unnoticed. These people, and some have not had much time to rest over the past few days, need a big pat on the back for getting everybody to safety and in ensuring the area was contained.
As a new week rolls in and the clean-up efforts continue, the weather is forecasting more rain, and without a doubt, the emergency management team is ready to tackle whatever adversity is thrown at it this time.