Operation LENTUS 2013 - Southern Alberta Flood Assistance

Joint Task Force West responded to a request for assistance by the Provincial Government of Alberta to provide support for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response operations due to the major flooding in Southern Alberta.

Timeline

Friday, June 21, 2013

First personnel to deploy from Edmonton to Red Deer and Cochrane in the middle of the night. By the end of that day, more troops arrived in Calgary, High River and Canmore.

Saturday June 22, 2013

More personnel move in to the same flooded areas to augment the troops already on the ground. Personnel also move to Airdrie.

Sunday June 23, 2013

Personnel move out of Red Deer.

Monday June 24, 2013

Personnel are still located in the same areas and are working on flood relief.

Tuesday June 25, 2013

Personnel begin to redeploy back to CFB Edmonton and home units.

Thursday June 27, 2013

All troops are redeployed by late afternoon. Handful of specialists (environmental officers and engineers), remain in Southern Alberta to conduct environmental assessments. [As good stewards of the environment when conducting operations Canadian Armed Forces abide by environmental laws and perform post operation inspections to ensure compliance.]

Number of personnel

At the height of Op LENTUS, approximately 2300 2300 soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen were deployed in Calgary, Canmore, Cochrane, Red Deer, High River, Airdrie and Medicine Hat. Of the more than 2300 members, approximately 400 were from the Primary Reserve.The three elements of the Canadian Armed Forces have been involved in the flood relief:

• Canadian Army: approximately 2200 personnel;
• Royal Canadian Air Force: approximately 100 personnel; and
• Royal Canadian Navy: approximately 15 personnel.

Units involved

The units involved in Op LENTUS were:

• Regular Force:
  • 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, CFB Edmonton
  • 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, CFB Edmonton
  • 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, CFB Edmonton
  • Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), CFB Edmonton
• Reserve Force:
  • HMCS Tecumseh, Calgary
  • 11 Field Squadron, CFB Edmonton
  • 13 Field Squadron, CFB Edmonton
  • 41 Territorial Battalion Group (41 CBG), Calgary
  • A Squadron, South Alberta Light Horse, Medicine Hat
• Royal Canadian Air Force:
  • 408 Squadron, 1 Wing Edmonton (four CH-146 Griffon)
  • 417 Squadron, 4 Wing Cold Lake (two CH-146 Griffon)
  • 442 Squadron, 19 Wing Comox (two CH-149 Cormorant)
  • 407 Squadron, 19 Wing Comox (one CP-140 Aurora)
  • 435 Squadron, 17 Wing Winnipeg (one CC-130 Hercules)

Activities in general

Royal Canadian Air Force: Search and Rescue teams from the RCAF were involved since the disaster unfolded. They played a key part in the relief effort to provide aero-medical support and casualty evacuation. As many as six CH-146 Griffon helicopters, two CH-149 Cormorant helicopters, one CC-130 Hercules, and one CP-140 Aurora aircraft were committed to Op LENTUS.

Canadian Army & Royal Canadian Navy: Soldiers and sailors were mainly employed to help with the evacuation of civilians and to perform other general tasks including:

• Removal of debris from culverts and bridges to ease the flow of water;
• Remediation work on highways to help with the rescue and remediation efforts;
• Route reconnaissance and mobility support for local officials in flooded areas to help Provincial and Municipal authorities properly assess and monitor the floods;
• Sandbagging of areas and buildings, construction of berms using Hesco Bastion Construction;
• Emergency dyke and berms repairs;
• Installation of culverts; and
• Assistance to the Calgary Emergency Management Agency call center.

Activities by region

Kananaskis Region

With the help of soldiers from the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), two Griffon and one Cormorant Helicopters, 120 people were evacuated from the Delta Lodge with over 100 staff and special needs clients evacuated from the William Walton Lodge.

Canmore area

LdSH(RC) soldiers manned information posts at the re-entry points of Cougar Creek. Troops assisted emergency disasters response partners in the pumping out of water from the Canmore Hospital. Their efforts permitted the hospital to re-open in two days. Members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment completed minor repairs to Hwy 1 and 1A.

High River

Members of 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, supported the RCMP neighbourhood survey by providing transport in areas covered in water using Light Armoured Vehicles (which have a high wheelbase) and Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats.

 Medicine Hat

Troops from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry with the help of local Reservists from the A Squadron, South Alberta Light Horse began building a 1.5km wall berm to protect key infrastructure, specifically City Hall. In addition, a nearby dyke, is was built to protect the downtown corridor. The troops worked continuously all through the night to complete this important task.

Calgary

Calgary-based Reservists under the 41 Territorial Battalion Group assisted the Calgary Fire Department by supplying four assault boats to move through affected neighbourhoods and identify anyone still remaining in the evacuation area.