Banff is ‘through the worst of it’ according to mayor Karen Sorensen, as the town sifts through the aftermath of heavy rainfall that severed highways and flooded river banks in town.
After hunkering down through 250 mm of rain, Banff volunteers protected town infrastructure with sandbags, while employees worked around the clock to keep the storm waters under control.
Mayor Sorensen said the plan worked.
“From a Banff perspective, it’s hard to say we’ve had much difficulty at all. We look at the rest of the province and we have to say we’re feeling pretty lucky,” she said.
The Trans-Canada Highway westbound was wiped out 15 kilometres east of Banff by floodwaters at Carrot Creek late Thursday (June 20), however essential services such as groceries were still able to reach the town. Late Friday, a ROAM bus was able to shuttle residents back and forth between Canmore and Banff via the Westbound lanes and continue on Sunday, however the road remained closed to traffic.
Several hundred residents at the Rocky Mountain Housing Co-operative were evacuated from their homes on Friday (June 21) as Cave Avenue flooded, and were unable to return Saturday (June 22). Water filled Cave Avenue, and the newly-renovated Cave and Basin, the birthplace of the National Park system, was closed as a precautionary measure.
“The evacuation occurred because Phase 2 lost its transformer and Phase 1 was getting flooding,” Sorensen said. “Most of the employees worked at The Banff Centre and the Mount Royal hotel, so they took care of their own. We set up an evacuation centre at the high school and we had lots of offers to help from residents.”
That reception centre closed on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Banff Library was also at risk of flooding, and several basements did fill, but Sorensen said the town infrastructure is in good shape, as sandbagging efforts helped.
That doesn’t mean the effort was easy. Staff worked tirelessly to keep the water at bay. All trails were closed around the town as the Bow River swelled to dangerously fast levels. The Banff Rec. Grounds were also completely flooded, and all events over the weekend were closed.
“The crews are doing fabulous. These people have been going for hours and hours. All of the managers stepped in,” Sorensen said.
Parks Canada engineers are still working to ensure the eastbound bridge at Carrot Creek holds to ensure the flow of goods continues into the town. Light traffic is now allowed between Banff and Golden in both directions, however all other highways are closed at this time. Brewster did run a bus to Calgary by way of Golden and Crows Nest Pass.
“Engineers are trying to stabilize the Carrot Creek bridge. The west bridge is irreparable and we want to keep the eastbound open for emergency traffic and supplies first. Then we’ll get a larger plan to hopefully let people move between Canmore and Banff,” said Banff National Park spokeswoman Michelle Macullo.
Both the Mayor and Parks stress the Trans-Canada Highway between Canmore and Banff is not open to regular traffic. Permits are needed to drive the unstable highway, as only food trucks and ROAM buses are currently allowed on the road.
The Bow Valley Parkway is closed, as is Highway 93S to Radium and 93N to Saskatchewn Crossing. The Minnewanka loop is closed, Sunshine Village Access Road is closed, Lake O’Hara Road is closed, Takakkaw Falls Road is closed and there is no estimated time for re-opening.
Sorensen said the town is accustomed to the annual June rains, so there was a high level of preparedness.
“Every year in Banff we get some flooding, so we expect something every year.”
