'People are on edge': Lessons learned after 2023 wildfire and flood evacuations in Edson
People living in Edson were forced to flee their homes twice last spring.
"We refer to them as emergencies one, two and three," said Edson's Mayor, Kevin Zahara.
The town 195 kilometres west of Edmonton was evacuated twice due to wildfires, then was hit by flooding.
"We're approaching the one-year anniversary of what occurred in our community and it's very dry outside," Zahara said.
"People are on edge," he said, adding "we just cross our fingers that we don't have to face the same sort of situation."
But if they do, Zahara said the town is in a better position to deal with it.
The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
An 'after action report' was completed, which outlined things the municipality needed to work on.
Zahara said prior to the 2023 evacuations, none of the town's staff had any formal training to deal with emergencies.
"All of our staff now have some sort of training in incident command response, and we also have a number of employees that have advanced training now," he said.
Through donations from industry, he said the Edson Fire Department has more equipment to respond to wildfires this year.
"As well, we are in the process of procuring a structural protection unit for our fire department," said Zahara.
"It was actually in the budget last year prior to the wildfires, but unfortunately, we did not have it acquired in time."
Emergency social services training was also offered to volunteers in the event Edson becomes an evacuation location.
Through a grant, the town was also able to clear trees and debris to reduce wildifre risk.
Zahara said even residents are preparing for whatever this wildfire season brings.
"They have an emergency kit ready to go. There's others that have saved up funds, that are concerned they might have to be evacuated again and what kind of financial impact that's going to have on them," he said.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Conservatives, NDP should be 'celebrating' EV deals: industry minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says federal opposition parties should be 'celebrating' the recently announced electric vehicle deals, despite their criticisms the Liberals refuse to make public the terms and conditions laid out in the contracts.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
Signs of Alzheimer’s were everywhere. Then his brain improved
Blood biomarkers of telltale signs of early Alzheimer’s disease in the brain of his patient, 55-year-old entrepreneur Simon Nicholls, had all but disappeared in a mere 14 months.
VIA Rail service delayed for hours due to suspicious package investigation in Kingston, Ont.
VIA Rail service resumed in the Kingston, Ont. area late Saturday afternoon, after a suspicious package investigation halted train service for more than four hours over the Victoria Day long weekend.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.