The City of Calgary is facing a growing list of high-risk hazards and threats

The City of Calgary is facing a growing list of high-risk hazards and threats, according to an annual disaster risk assessment by the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). The BBW report presented to the city's emergency management committee includes 66 hazards and threats of varying priority levels. Among the most pressing concerns are extreme temperatures, natural disasters, and infrastructure failure.

Extreme heat has been added to the high-risk disaster list, joining extreme cold. This is due to the city experiencing higher temperatures and events like the costly wildfires across Alberta caused by hot and dry conditions. Water distribution infrastructure failure is also a new high-risk threat, primarily because of the 2023 Bearspaw south feeder main break, which triggered a local state of emergency.

Severe weather events, such as tornadoes, heavy rainfall, and winter storms, are particularly concerning for Calgary. The province is known for its frequent tornado occurrences, with 12 to 15 annually on average. The recent increase in storm complexity underscores the need for the city to be prepared for natural disasters.

Climate change is identified as an underlying cause for the higher frequency and severity of these events. Severe storms have reportedly increased by 40 per cent worldwide over the past two decades.

The CEMA emphasizes that while the city is prepared to respond to such risks, it's crucial for residents to also take responsibility for their own preparedness. This includes ensuring properties are in good condition to withstand potential weather events and having comprehensive insurance policies that cover such incidents. The agency's list of human-induced hazards and threats includes active assailants, cyber attacks on critical services and infrastructure, mass attacks, mass gathering incidents, and illegal protests or demonstrations.

The focus on disaster management and the recognition of climate change's impact on severe weather risks highlight the importance of proactive investments in infrastructure and emergency preparedness. The city's efforts in this area are exemplified by projects like the Sunnyside flood barrier, which aims to protect communities from flooding.