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Edmonton should be trying to build at least enough flood protection infrastructure — stormwater ponds and larger storm sewers — to ensure private insurance agencies can offer an affordable product, said Coun. Ben Henderson.

Photo by Kathy Brower / Supplied

He and many others live in the river valley, where the city approved development, he said. But overland flooding insurance for his neighbourhood, Rossdale, costs thousands of dollars. It’s unaffordable, he said.

Currently, 37 per cent of Albertans have decided to buy the new overland flood protection plans new to the market, said Adams. The provincial government has said it will stop offering emergency coverage to flooded homeowners when these policies are widespread and affordable, but hasn’t defined what that means.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada will be at this year’s Get Ready in the Park event to share flood maps the insurance industry developed. That event is in Hawrelak Park on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Assessing the risk

Flood risk in Edmonton is varies from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, with some facing risk from river flooding, but others far from the river facing risk from flash floods. The latter depends upon geography, but also the size and position of sewer pipes homeowners can’t see.

Flash floods hit Mill Woods and many south-central communities in 2004 and 2012. A downpour stalled over specific neighbourhoods, flooding 1,200 basements.

Epcor has taken over Edmonton’s flood mitigation work. It is developing a ranked list of priority projects for the most as-risk neighbourhoods, said Susan Ancel, Epcor’s director of stormwater strategies.