City emergency crews have begun a controlled evacuation of downtown Calgary as flood fears continue to rise.

Fire Chief Bruce Burrell said they will also check for any damage to infrastructure that could endanger people's safety.

Crews are going building-to-building to assess the damage and those who don't need to be evacuated will be left where they are.

Deputy police Chief Trevor Daroux confirmed that the Saddledome is submerged with water up several rows up seats.

Water services officials emphasized that the city's ability to treat water has not been compromised and people shouldn't worry about the safety of the city's supply.

Officials continue to remind people not to travel today if not necessary.

'Tragic situation'

Premier Alison Redford is calling the flooding crisis an "absolutely tragic situation" as she went to see some of the aftermath of the devastation in southern Alberta.

"To watch this unfold over the past 24 hours and see the work that our first responders have done and any integration that has taken place in Calgary in communities right across southern Alberta, from Canmore to High River to Lethbridge overwhelmingly does speak to who we are as Albertans," she told reporters Friday.

Redford said she's satisfied with the responses from all the emergency agencies and she's thanking all the volunteers and crews that worked endless hours.

"Everyone has been on the job," she said.

Estimates of the potential damages this flood has caused isn't being considered right now as both the city and province focus on the current state of emergency.

About 600 soldiers have been deployed in southern Alberta and another that size is expected to be dispatched by noon.

Short on supplies

The rising flood waters caused a run on bottled water at some Calgary stores over the last 24 hours.

Twitter and Facebook reported folks stocking up on the staple, with many stores sold out.

A manager at the Sunridge Superstore said they noticed the run on bottled water start Thursday night and they were having additional flats of water shipped in from places such as Edmonton.

The city says our drinking water is still safe and doesn’t anticipate any problems with it down the road.

However, many locals opted for the better safe than sorry strategy.

“I have a big storage room so I figured it was a good idea to stock up,” said 20-year-old Zach Friesen, carrying a 24-pack of bottled water in one hand and six-pack in the other “Just in case.”

Worst to come

Earlier in the morning, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the worst was yet to come, as the Bow River waters continued to rise significantly during Friday’s early hours.

Another 30-35% rise was expected Friday morning by 6 a.m. before the river reached its peak.

The Elbow River was already believed to have reached its peak.

The river’s rapid rise and flow resulted in the evacuation of thousands of Calgarians from portions of 25 communities by Thursday’s end.

“I have never seen the Bow River that high and that fast ... I was here in (the floods of) 2005 and this is no comparison,” Nenshi said.

When both rivers have hit their peaks, it’s expected the Bow will flow at 1,700 cubic metres per second and the Elbow 580-600 cubic metres per second.

Access to Calgary’s core was limited to 11 St. Friday morning and expected to remain that way throughout the day.

Director of Calgary Emergency Management Agency Bruce Burrell said, “we do not want that access clogged,” and pleaded travel into downtown be limited to essential only.

With water lapping ever-closer, many bridges and stretches of major roadways were closed to traffic.

Information on closures and any possible detours can be found at calgarycitynews.com.

Nenshi suggested those who can stay home do so, and said nobody should be travelling anywhere they don’t have to.

“Knock on wood, we haven’t had any injuries (and) we haven’t had any loss of life,” Nenshi said.

Not everyone fled their homes Thursday, however.

Burrell said a small number — he was uncertain how many — refused to evacuate, and while those people can still ask for aid, they’ve left themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

“You’re always going to get the odd person who does not want to leave their home,” Burrell said.

“We’re not going to force them.”

With evacuation handled, Burrell said, focus will shift to providing security for abandoned neighbourhoods.

Calgary cops will be joined by 100 of their counterparts from Edmonton.

Throughout the night and into the morning, Calgary Zoo scrambled to get some of its animals to other locations on the grounds.

Zoo spokeswoman Laurie Skene said currently all animals remain on the grounds and are safe.

At one point, she said, the possibility of moving the zoo’s big cats into cells in the lower levels of the courthouse was discussed as a backup plan but never became necessary.

Premier Alison Redford was in Calgary at the emergency operations centre early Friday morning to be briefed on the current situation.

In a statement, Redford said the province is working closely with the federal government.

“Earlier this morning, I spoke with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and updated him on what the Government of Alberta and affected municipalities are doing to deal with the catastrophic flooding in Alberta," Redford said

“I am very pleased that the Prime Minister pledged the federal government’s full support in our ongoing recovery and rescue efforts.

“I will remain in contact with the Prime Minister in the coming days to ensure that we address this crisis in a coordinated manner."

damien.wood@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter: @SUNDamienWood