Drawing on debrief reports from the Municipal Emergency Coordinator, the Emergency Operations Centre Logistics Officer and Communications Lead, the Planning Officer, and the Chief Administrative Officer, the town council of Swan River, including Mayor Lance Jacobson, have released some of their findings regarding the flooding the community suffered in June and July following heavy rains.
In a release, the Town of Swan River called the flooding ” one of the most significant and complex emergencies in the history of the Town of Swan River.” They received more than 170 millimeters of rainfall in just two days, which caused widespread overland flooding and forced mandatory evacuations in some areas.
“This flood tested our community in ways few events ever have,” said Mayor Jacobson. “While floodwaters impacted homes, businesses, roads, and critical infrastructure, what stood out most was the resilience of our residents and the extraordinary cooperation demonstrated across the Swan Valley. We are deeply grateful to every person and organization that stepped forward to help.”
According to the release, there were no reported fatalities or serious injuries resulting from the flooding. The reports they received detailed the actions taken during the flood, including continuous monitoring of river conditions, emergency protective measures, the deployment of more than 60,000 sandbags, the operation of an Emergency Operations Centre, evacuation planning and implementation, infrastructure protection, and the maintenance of essential municipal services throughout the emergency.
The town also said more than 155 privately owned properties have been identified as affected by the flood, while damage to municipally owned properties is still being assessed.
“Council is committed not only to learning from this event but acting on what we have learned,” said the Mayor. “Our reports have been submitted for further review, and we welcome feedback from our residents and community partners.”
