Flood/drought papers Best practices for reducing the risk of future damage to homes from riverine and urban flooding A report on recovery and rebuilding in southern Alberta By Paul Kovacs and Dan Sandink September 2013
Abstract
Flooding in southern Alberta in June 2013 resulted in four fatalities and unprecedented damage to property. Premier Alison Redford met in late July with the Insurance Bureau of Canada and a number of insurance industry CEOs to discuss recovery and rebuilding. The Bureau asked the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction in August to prepare this report on actions the Government of Alberta could take to reduce the risk of flood damage to homes in the province.
The tragic losses in southern Alberta have opened a window of opportunity over the next 12 to 24 months for the Government of Alberta and other stakeholders to take action to reduce the risk of loss from flooding, tornadoes, wildfires and other perils. The Institute’s research program on best practices for reducing the risk of loss from natural hazards demonstrates that most disaster damage can be prevented through the application of existing and emerging knowledge about building disaster resilient communities.
This paper sets out 12 recommendations on actions the Government of Alberta can take to reduce the risk of flood damage to homes.