Southern Alberta flooding prompts local state of emergency in Taber

Taber, Alta., declared a local state of emergency late Wednesday afternoon due to overland flooding.

The M.D. of Taber has been in a state of emergency since Friday, but officials hadn't anticipated the waters would reach the town itself.

• Flooding continues outside Taber

But on Wednesday, temperatures hovered just high enough above zero to cause increased flows.

Water was seen moving north toward the town's water treatment plant, officials said in a statement at 6:15 p.m., but no damage had yet occurred at that time.

Mayor Andrew Prokop said town crews were fast at work clearing ditches to drain the excess water.

"We have crews on scene on the south side of the reservoir, currently digging a trench to create further flow of the water in question near the water treatment plant and reservoir. We're attempting to create a situation where water and rain away from the water treatment infrastructure to the west of our town reservoir," he said.

Prokop said the emergency was declared as a warning for residents, and that staff will be monitoring the situation 24/7 to ensure the safety of the town's water supply.

The town asked residents to check drains on and around their property to ensure they're clear of ice and debris, and to contact police about any potential flooding at their properties or anywhere else in town.

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