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Lessons learned during the 2005 Alberta floods
Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning,
1
(4),
415-425
(2007)
Abstract
In Canada, weather-related disasters and extreme events continue to place increasing burdens on society and the economy. Climate change scenarios described in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report predict more frequent and more severe high-impact events. Indeed, data from the Canadian Disaster Database indicate that flooding disasters alone are four times as frequent today as they were 50 years ago. Management of major emergency events requires collaboration among all levels of government as mandated responsibilities become less distinct during crisis periods. This paper focuses on the role of the Meteorological Service of Canada in the management of flood and high-impact rainfall events through an analysis of lessons learned during the 2005 Alberta floods, showing that the Meteorological Service of Canada's risk-based environmental forecasting, warnings and mission-critical operational consultations are key to citizen-focused emergency management services.
Keywords: floods; hydro-meteorological risk reduction; mitigation; land-use planning; emergency management; 2005 Alberta floods; environmental prediction for decision making; emergency management officials; natural hazards; risk-based decision making; disaster financial assistance arrangements; critical infrastructure; vulnerability thresholds; water and security
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
David Grimes is the Meteorological Service of Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister and has over 30 years of scientific, research and management experience in Canada’s Department of the Environment. David is a certified meteorologist with a BSc in physics, mathematics and meteorology and has served as Director General in a number of posts including the Canadian Climate Centre and the Business Policy Directorate.
Tim Goos is the Meteorological Service of Canada’s Regional Director serving Canada’s Prairie and Northern Region. Tim has a BSc and MSc in physics and meteorology and is a certified professional meteorologist with over 30 years of experience. He has held various posts at Environment Canada including Operational Forecaster and Chief of Scientific Services and is currently acting as Regional Director General.
Magda Little is Senior Advisor with the Meteorological Service of Canada and holds over 10 years of experience in scientific, engineering and business development positions at Environment Canada, York University and the Canadian Standards Association. Magda is a certified professional engineer with a PhD in numerical modelling.
Brad Shannon retired in May 2007 from the Meteorological Service of Canada having most recently served as a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist based in Calgary, Alberta. Brad is a certified meteorologist with a BSc in physics and over 30 years of experience with the Meteorological Service of Canada, including postings as Senior Meteorologist and also Chief of Atmospheric and Hydrological Sciences and Prediction.
Citation
Grimes, David, Goos, Tim, Little, Magda and Shannon, Brad (2007, August 1). Lessons learned during the 2005 Alberta floods. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 1, Issue 4. https://doi.org/10.69554/WQCJ1064.
© Henry Stewart
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Publications LLP