As of November 19, 2018, citizens ignoring evacuation orders are now subject to fines up to $10,000 and/or up to one year in jail.
These penalties are part of an amendment to the Emergency Management Act, the act that provides the legislative framework for local and provincial management of emergencies and disasters.
The Calgary Fire Department performed more than 450 water rescues during the 2013 flood.
Additionally, the new Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation (LEMR) seeks to provide clear direction on emergency management practices for municipalities to follow; such as emergency plan requirements, mandatory exercises and training requirements, and more.
The Emergency Management Amendment Act was originally proposed in April 2018 and, following stakeholder engagement in summer 2018, the changes were passed on November 1, 2018 and came into force on November 19, 2018.
The government consulted with 92 municipalities and five organizations to gather input that helped inform the new regulation. First responders, local elected officials, municipal directors of emergency management, Metis Settlements and First Nations all participated in the discussions. Read the report here.
Read the full news release from the Government of Alberta here: Updated rules protect Albertans from disaster.
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