Keyano College implements a short-term flood mitigation solution

Posted On Wednesday March 31, 2021

Keyano College had approximately $55 million in property damages resulting from the flood that occurred in the spring of 2020. Flood restoration of critical infrastructure was completed by mid-August 2020, with some remediation still ongoing. As a result, Keyano College has not been able to secure overland flood insurance coverage and has been working with its partners to develop a plan to mitigate risk from future flood events.

Keyano College, its insurance broker, and current property insurance provider have been working together on short and long-term flood mitigation solutions. All College buildings at the Clearwater Campus are below the 100-year flood plain level, so the College has been developing plans to complement the work being done by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) and their flood prevention strategies.

The College evaluated various short-term solutions and has opted to acquire the Tiger Dam flood barrier system. The system consists of water-fillable bladders, is environmentally safe, flexible, and can be quickly deployed in an emergency.

“Keyano College is being proactive in our approach to avoid this level of devastation from occurring again. Utilizing a Tiger Dam system affords protection of critical infrastructure and gives the College time to develop a permanent flood mitigation solution,” said Tracy Boyde, Vice President, Infrastructure & CIO.

“The Tiger Dam system will be deployed in April and timed with the river break-up. The College will conduct an annual exercise of deployment as part of our emergency preparedness,” said Dale Mountain, Interim President & CEO.

The longer-term solution includes the construction of fixed barriers and changes to storm and sanitary sewers along with improving our water evacuation pumping system.  

The College will continue working with Alberta Advanced Education and Alberta Infrastructure to protect College infrastructure while collaborating and complementing efforts of the RMWB.

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