Slave Lake Wildfire

Response and Recovery

Presented to

Safety Codes Council Conference and AGM 2012

June 1, 2012

Brandy Cox, Executive Director

Major Legislative Projects and

Strategic Planning

Alberta Municipal Affairs

Presentation Contents

• The Story

• Wildfire Timeline

• Wildfire Impacts

• Government of Alberta (GOA) Response

• Housing

• Signs of Recovery

• Ongoing Initiatives

• Questions

The Story

The Story Crisis and Recovery Film

• Crisis and Recovery Film

– Courtesy of the MD of Lesser Slave River no. 124

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGeC2SnFeis&feat

ure=player_embedded

Wildfire Timeline

Wildfire Timeline A History of Fires (red = 2011 wildfires)

Wildfire Timeline May 14-15, 2011

Wildfire Timeline May 14-15, 2011

• March

– Fire season planning commenced.

• Evening of May 14th

– MD of Lesser Slave River and the Town of Slave Lake

declare States of Local Emergency (SOLE). Provincial

Operations Centre (POC) goes to Readiness Level 2.

• Morning of May 15th

– Both fires burning in the area are reported as out of

control, however the incident commander was confident

the fire break protecting the town would hold. POC is

augmented.

• Afternoon of May 15th

– Due to deteriorating situation, POC is elevated to

Readiness Level 3.

Wildfire Timeline May 14-15, 2011

• Turning Point on May 15th – “Perfect Storm” of fire

conditions experienced:

– very strong winds whipped up by both meteorological

and fire conditions;

– water bombers grounded due to weather conditions; and

– inability to replenish water reservoir in the town.

• 2100 hours (appr), May 15th

– Area Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) orders a

mandatory complete evacuation of the Town of Slave

Lake including evacuees from other areas.

Wildfire Timeline May 14-15, 2011

Wildfire Timeline May 15, 2011

Wildfire Timeline May 15, 2011

Wildfire Impacts

Wildfire Impacts Emergency Response

• Up to 1,700 Emergency Service personnel from across Alberta responded to the emergency.

• Calgary Emergency Management Agency was the lead.

Wildfire Impacts Displacement

• Almost 15,000 residents of the Town of Slave Lake, Municipal

District of Lesser Slave River No. 124, Sawridge First Nation

and surrounding communities were evacuated for over two

weeks.

– Largest displacement of people in Alberta’s history.

• Many communities set up evacuation reception centres,

including:

– Athabasca,

– Westlock,

– Boyle,

– Edmonton,

– High Prairie,

– Grande Prairie,

– Peace River,

– Valleyview,

– Smith & Wabasca.

Wildfire Impacts Property Damage

• 372 homes and 6 apartment blocks were destroyed.

• 732 households were displaced.

– 260 households were non-insured (mostly in rental

accommodations)

• In addition to homes, 9 commercial properties were

destroyed or damaged.

• Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates $700 million in

claims:

– Second costliest

disaster in

Canadian history.

Wildfire Impacts Slave Lake Government Centre

• Town hall and offices were destroyed.

• Regional library was destroyed.

• 9 provincial departments located in the Centre suffered

losses including damage to contents, equipment and records.

Wildfire Impacts Impacts on the Government of Alberta

• Alberta Social Housing Corporation suffered the most

damage with 9 residential buildings destroyed and a

further 11 buildings being damaged. A group home

owned by Infrastructure was also a total loss.

• Updated estimates of damage to GOA property have

now reduced the total loss to about $5.9 million.

– Given the size of the loss, the province has exceeded the

deductible amount under its commercial insurance

policy and the loss will be paid by the province’s

property insurer.

Wildfire Impacts

Wildfire Impacts

Wildfire Impacts

Wildfire Impacts

Government of Alberta

(GOA) Response

GOA Response May 16-20, 2011

• May 16th/17th - GOA priorities set as:

o assist in the evacuation of residents;

o coordinate firefighting resources to assist with response and

recovery;

o assume responsibility for the ongoing care of evacuees to allow

Town and MD to concentrate on response and recovery; and

o in coordination with the Local Authority, set and achieve the

conditions for return of evacuees.

• May 18th/19th :

o evacuee Support Team was established to ensure all aspects of

evacuee needs were met.

o GOA executive manager assigned to work with Slave Lake EOC

on a re-entry plan.

o Slave Lake EOC commenced shift from response to recovery

phase.

• May 20th : Premier and Prime Minister visit and tour the area.

GOA Response May 20-30, 2011

• May 20th - Announcement of GOA financial assistance

program for evacuees - $1,250 for adults and $500 for youth

under age 18.

• May 22nd :

o Re-entry plan approved.

o Most evacuees moved from reception centres to more

suitable short-term accommodations.

• May 23rd/24th – Bus tours conducted for evacuees to see

homes.

• May 25th – Commenced phased re-entry to town.

• May 27th – Completed phased re-entry to town and opened

all road blocks.

• May 30th – Operational authority for the GOA efforts shifted

from the POC to the Slave Lake Recovery Task Force.

• June 1 – State of Local Emergency lifted

GOA Response Slave Lake Regional Recovery Task Force

• The Premier tasked the Deputy Minister of Executive Council to create a Task Force at the Assistant Deputy Minister level to oversee the response and recovery of the events in the Lesser Slave Lake Region.

• Their role was to provide provincial oversight and coordination of recovery efforts, and delegated authority to senior staff for funding allocation decision making.

– This was a key competent of the effective and

streamlined decision-making processes put in place.

• The Task Force had the flexibility to address the unique challenges that were a result of the large-scale disaster.

GOA Response Slave Lake Regional Recovery Task Force

• Ministries involved:

– Municipal Affairs

– Infrastructure

– Health

– Treasury Board and Finance

– International and

Intergovernmental Relations

– Aboriginal Relations

– Human Services

– Transportation

– Executive Council

– Public Affairs Bureau

– Others as required

• Four Key Themes

– Financial Support

– Housing (interim and permanent)

– Recovery Plan

– Donations

GOA Response Funding Programs

• Treasury Board approved a total of $289 million to

support response and recovery efforts in the Lesser

Slave Region:

– $125.3 million Disaster Recovery Program;

– $56.7 million Community Stabilization Funding;

– $42.8 million Interim Housing Project;

– $64.2 million Lesser Slave Lake Regional Recovery Plan;

and,

– funds already committed to Slave Lake through regular

GoA business processes.

Housing

Housing Recovery Zones

Temporary Housing

• The full Housing Plan during the response and

recovery had many different components, including:

– Emergency Response;

– Evacuation;

– Essential Worker Housing;

– Emergency Accommodation Program;

– Interim Housing Project; and

– Permanent Subdivision.

• Total Funding Budgeted: $65 million (includes projects

from the Disaster Recovery Program, Community Stabilization, and

the Interim Housing Project funding envelopes)

Housing Essential Housing and Clean Up

• Clean up of fire debris started July 7 and continued to move through the Recovery Zones as the utilities were secured:

– Zone 1 started July 12, completed August 15

– Zone 2 started July 7, completed August 15

– Zone 3 started July 12, completed August 15

– Zone 4 started July 27, completed September 30

• 71 essential worker households were provided with accommodations to sustain services in the community.

Housing Emergency Accommodations

• Emergency Accommodations Program was for

uninsured evacuees who lacked financial resources:

1. Phase 1: ended August 31, 2011

covers rent, moving costs, deposits, utilities for

displaced Albertans.

» 117 households provided with $623,288 in support

2. Phase 2: September 1, 2011 - November 30, 2011

supports rent subsidy costs for families that had not

been transitioned into Interim Housing according to

program priorities.

» 42 households provided with $102,433 in rent subsidies

3. Phase 3: December 1, 2011 - November 30, 2014

supports rent costs for remaining families not yet in

alternative accommodations.

Housing Interim Housing Project

• The project is a partnership between the Town of Slave

Lake, the MD of Lesser Slave River and the Government of

Alberta to provide interim housing units to displaced

residents.

• Tenancy priority was based on ensuring the community’s

continued re-establishment, accommodating the resumption

of the 2011/2012 school year and to providing suitable

housing for those living in unsustainable temporary housing

(e.g., campgrounds, hotels or overcrowded conditions)

– Rents set at average pre-fire rates for Slave Lake

Housing Interim Housing Project Timelines

Tasks Normal Timelines Interim Housing

Project Timeline

Engineering Plans 6-8 months 15 days

Site Grading and

Services

3-4 months

35 days

Unit Delivery and

Utility Hookup

20-25 days per

phase

10-15 days per

phase

Stairs and Skirting 10-15 days per

phase

5-10 days per

phase

Housing Interim Housing Numbers

• 245 households required interim housing

• 233 modular units were installed (MD - 32; Town - 90 in

Phoenix Heights; 80 in Sunset Place; 31 in 4 smaller

locations.)

• The Province also purchased the 34-unit Heritage

Apartments.

Housing Lot Development Locations in Town

Lot 78

(Sunset)

Lot 88

(Phoenix)

Ball Diamonds

Housing Lot 78 (Sunset) Development

70 single units

10 duplex units

Housing Lot 88 (Phoenix) Development

90 single units

Housing Ball Diamonds

• This land was originally

the best alternative to

providing an interim

housing solution.

• As the project has

advanced, lots 78 and 88

provided a faster solution.

• Development to be

completed and lots to be

sold as permanent

housing.

Housing Other Installations in Town - 31 units

Government Lands

Lynnwood

Health Clinic Site

Housing Installations in MD – 32 units

Canyon Creek

Poplar Lane/

The Point/Mitsue

Widewater

Permanent Housing

Safety Services Involvement

• Assembled a team of electrical inspectors to assist in

the assessment of properties that were affected by the

fire but still intact.

– More than 50 properties were inspected, repaired and

inspected again while the owners were still evacuated.

• Had a booth at the June 11 housing fair to provide

homeowners with information about re-building their

homes, including permitting requirements.

• 2,684 permits issued in the Town and MD since the

fire (Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Gas &Private

Sewage).

– Inspections under these permits is done by private

agencies; however Safety Services provides on-site

technical support to the agencies and the municipality.

– Staff remain in contact with community officials through

regular visits to the community.

Signs of Recovery

Signs of Recovery Local Governance

• Tri-Council – Elected officials from Town of Slave Lake, MD of Lesser Slave

River no. 124, and the Sawridge First Nations.

– To lead the Lesser Slave Lake Region recovery with the aim of returning the Region to normalcy and positioning it for future growth.

– Consensus model.

• CAO Secretariat – CAOs from the Town and the MD and the Executive Director of

the Sawridge First Nation.

– Responsible for implementing the strategic regional recovery direction provided by the Tri-Council.

– The principal advisor to the Tri-Council and provides it with policy advice.

• Regional Recovery Coordination Group – Temporary group of GOA employees and contracted advisors.

– Assist the Town, MD and First Nation with their recovery efforts with priority to the initiatives in the Lesser Slave Lake Regional Wildfire Recovery Plan.

– Facilitate the operational involvement of involved GOA Departments in Recovery Plan initiatives.

Signs of Recovery Recovery Governance Model

Signs of Recovery Regional Wildfire Plan

• The Lesser Slave Lake Regional Recovery Plan

– created in collaboration with the Town of Slave Lake, the

MD of Lesser Slave River no. 124 and the Sawridge First

Nation.

• Goal:

– To return the region to its pre-disaster state, while

ensuring that its communities are not socially,

environmentally or economically disadvantaged by the

wildfire event and are well-positioned for the future.

• Priorities:

• People

• Environment

• Reconstruction

• Economy

Signs of Recovery Regional Wildfire Plan

• The Lesser Slave Lake Regional Recovery Plan

– created in collaboration with the Town of Slave Lake, the

MD of Lesser Slave River no. 124 and the Sawridge First

Nation.

• Goal:

– To return the region to its pre-disaster state, while

ensuring that its communities are not socially,

environmentally or economically disadvantaged by the

wildfire event and are well-positioned for the future.

• Priorities:

• People

• Environment

• Reconstruction

• Economy

Signs of Recovery Disaster Recovery Program ($125.3 M)

• For expenses associated with responding to the

disaster, including fire fighting resources and

compensation for non-insurable infrastructure

losses.

• Projects in this funding envelope include: – Site grading,

– Servicing and remediation,

– Modular unit installation,

– Red Cross contract,

– Mutual Aid agreements, and

– Evacuation center expenses.

Signs of Recovery Community Stabilization ($56.7 M)

• For expenses associated with the immediate

stabilization of the community, including emergency

accommodations and critical financial assistance for

residents.

• Projects in this funding envelope include: – EI Assistance program,

– Essential workers housing,

– Emergency accommodation program,

– Property tax revenue stabilization,

– Donations management, and

– Contracts to support municipal operations.

Signs of Recovery Interim Housing ($42.8 M)

• For expenses associated with servicing and

acquiring interim housing units

• Projects in this funding envelope include: – Purchase of 264 modular home units (233 buildings)

– Acquisition of 34 unit apartment building,

– Servicing of ball diamond lots, and

– Housing management operating costs.

Signs of Recovery Regional Recovery Plan ($64.2 M)

• For expenses associated with projects to support

the long term recovery of the Lesser Slave Lake

region, as identified in the Recovery Plan.

• Projects in this funding envelope include: – FireSmart initiatives,

– Firefighting resources, including a new fire station at

Mitsue, a rebuilt and expanded Widewater fire station,

and replacement of lost firefighting resources,

– Increased water supply,

– Berm (noise and fire barrier) along Highway 88,

– Highway 2/ Highway 88 bypass and upgrade, and

– Health services assessment.

Signs of Recovery

• Town: 518 building permits issued to April 30, 2012

• MD: 144 building permits issued to April 30, 2012

Signs of Recovery

• Widewater Firehall, which was destroyed by the

wildfire, has been expanded and is almost complete.

Signs of Recovery

• The Town Hall and provincial offices are currently

under construction.

Ongoing Initiatives

Ongoing Initiatives Lessons Learned Report - KPMG

• KPMG has been hired to produce a report cataloguing

and comparing the actions taken against protocols

and best practices to capture key lessons learned.

• The “lessons learned” report will contribute to

improving future emergency responses and will

facilitate dialogue around recovery efforts.

• Timelines:

– Phase 1 – interviews and focus groups with internal GOA

staff and contractors were conducted March – April 2012.

– Interim Report to Minister May 1, 2012.

– Phase 2 – interviews and focus groups with external

groups and public starting May 7.

– Final Report to Minister later this year.

Ongoing Initiatives FireSmart

• Tri-Council established the FireSmart Regional Action

Team (FRAT) to undertake initiatives to make the

region a model FireSmart community

– $20 Million has been allocated from the Recovery Plan

funding for FireSmart initiatives, such as:

• Education and awareness initiatives.

• Vegetation management on 438 hectares, resulting in the

removal of standing black spruce and the thinning and

pruning of other vegetation.

• Installation of dry hydrants in the MD.

• Free FireSmart home assessments, so homeowners can

learn how to minimize fire risk on their property.

Ongoing Initiatives Social Recovery Plan

• Comprehensive Plan under development by RRCG

Social Recovery Director, in consultation with local

GOA health and social supports ministries, Tri-

Council and CAO Secretariat.

• Broad Topics include:

– Strategies to improve the consistently poor ratings of

local schools;

– Recruitment of health care professionals;

– A “one stop shop” for child and family services,

including a daycare facility;

– A coordinated approach to community mental health;

– Additional temporary RCMP positions; and,

– A community survey of social indicators.

Ongoing Initiatives Infrastructure Projects

• There are a number of infrastructure projects

identified in the Recovery Plan that are still in the

planning stages:

– Legacy Project – centered around an enhanced

evacuation center and community ball diamonds.

– Highway 2 / Highway 88 bypass.

– Increased water supply

– Mitsue Fire Station

– Fire suppression and noise barrier for communities

along Highway 88

– Regional Transit

Questions