By Andrew de Souza

Premier tours northern flood zones

Jul 26, 2011 | 6:28 AM

The province plans to be proactive when it comes to dealing with and preventing flooding.

This was the message of Premier Brad Wall after a tour of the communities that have been affected by recent rains, including La Ronge, Air Ronge, Montreal Lake and Timber Bay, on Monday.

“We heard the news of about four to five inches of rainfall in 24 hours,” he told reporters at the Prince Albert Airport before taking off for Regina again.

“I wanted to come up here and see firsthand. It gives people a chance to ask for some help or suggest some proactive with what might be coming down the road.”

Wall said what he saw helped confirm his government’s decision to increase flood mitigation and disaster relief funding last year.

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With the money, Wall said the province had been purchasing much needed flood equipment and training people in disaster relief.

“The government has established hot shot teams and these are officials that go in and deal with particularly difficult areas,” he said.

“Quick sandbagging, something called Hesco barriers, large yellow water tube barriers — all of that’s part of the new money we’ve added this year.”

Wall said the next step for the affected communities will be for provincial workers to attend and help residents and organizations access disaster relief.

“This will maybe be two weeks out but what will happen is a government team will go out answer questions, help people fill out forms so they can get the help they need,” he said.

Wall said the province will continue to work on flood mitigation projects, such as berm and culvert construction. He said the province was working with the federal government to get more funding for such work.

Wall said that he’s happy that there are funds to provide these types of services and that as long as there was strong economy in the province.

adesouza@panow.com