Other provinces have been helped by Canadian Armed Forces in past
Canadian Armed Forces equipment spotted on Highway 2 heading to southern Alberta to help with flood search and rescue efforts. Photo: Erik Langberg.
The Canadian Armed Forces began arriving in Alberta Friday, just in time to rescue people from rooftops in one of the hardest hit communities.
The Department of National Defence, in support of Public Safety Canada, is providing assistance to Canadians affected by the flooding in Alberta.
Canadian Armed Forces personnel and aircraft began deploying to facilities in Southern Alberta. Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft and crews have deployed to airfields throughout the province, according to a DND press release.
The Canadian Armed Forces expects to deploy 1,300 soldiers to flooded zones. Three helicopters were monitoring the area Friday and six more were expected on the weekend.
The Canadian Armed Forces are sending 350 soldiers to Canmore and 400 to High River, areas that have been particularly hard hit during the flooding. Fifty soldiers will be deployed to Calgary and the remainder will be on stand by.
Canadian Armed Forces helped civilian authorities in search and rescue, including the rescuing of 31 people from High River area rooftops Friday evening during initial evacuation efforts.
“The Province of Alberta has asked the Government of Canada for help, and our specialized skills, equipment, and expertise will assist provincial authorities in their efforts,” said Defence Minister Peter MacKay.
“The men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces have proven time and time again that they are always ready and able to help ensure the safety and security of Canada and Canadians.”
“The Canadian Armed Forces are in full support of the Province of Alberta and its partners in responding to this emergency situation. Our primary focus right now is to help protect those living in the regions affected by this flooding,” said General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff.
“We will also work with other first responders and levels of government to help ensure our people and platforms can be appropriately brought to bear where they are needed most, whether that be in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, or helping to provide added search and rescue coverage.”
Lawson says the primary role of the Canadian Armed Forces is to defend and protect Canadians at home and abroad and that Canadian soldiers have a proud record of assisting Canadians with flooding, most recently in 2011, when Canadian Armed Forces members assisted civilian authorities during floods in Quebec and Manitoba.
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