Premier Prentice announces new measures to prevent floods, speed up flood claims

CALGARY – The province has announced new measures to clear up claims from last year’s catastrophic floods in southern Alberta.

Steps will also be taken to prevent future disasters.

Premier Jim Prentice, speaking in Calgary, announced that the current staff of six flood claims adjudicators will be increased to 18 to clear up all cases by year’s end.

Prentice says a south diversion of the Highwood River will be constructed to protect the town of High River.

A deal will also be struck with TransAlta to ensure that the Ghost Reservoir near Cochrane will be able to accommodate overflow from the Bow River.

More than 10,500 disaster relief claims were filed after heavy flooding swamped parts of Calgary and southern Alberta last June.