After the 2022 Hay River Floods, I worked with the Associated Engineering team and Collier Project Leaders on behalf of the Government of Northwest Territories, Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA). My focus was remediation, mitigation, and public safety in the flood-damaged communities.

What I did

1. On-site assessment and immediate hazard response

  • Conducted structural assessments of residential properties across more than three flood-affected communities, documenting existing conditions with a focus on foundations.
  • Reviewed adjuster reports and other existing information to inform my evaluations.
  • For homes that were structurally unstable and posed immediate danger, I issued public safety alerts to keep people out. I then initiated demolition procedures for those compromised structures.

2. Mitigation planning and execution

  • Collaborated with WSP to analyze projected flood levels for each community. This informed our long-term risk assessment and mitigation planning.
  • For homes in extremely low-lying areas where relocation was the safest long-term option, I was involved in planning and overseeing the placement of new manufactured homes at higher elevations - a process that required careful planning and construction oversight.
  • For homes that could be elevated in place, I contributed to developing detailed lifting plans.
  • Supervised the contractors doing the lifting, making sure the work was done safely and per engineering specifications.

3. Remedial construction oversight

  • Performed regular on-site inspections and tracked construction progress for remedial repairs and foundation extensions.
  • Pushed for standardized details and designs for remedial works wherever possible - this simplified construction and helped with material optimization.
  • Ensured all remedial actions were properly documented through final inspection and project close-out, including preparation of record drawing information.

Results

  • My rapid assessments and safety alerts protected the public from immediate danger from hazardous structures.
  • Home elevations and strategic relocations reduced vulnerability to future flood events for numerous homes and their occupants.
  • Homes were repaired and rebuilt to a standard that let residents return safely.
  • Inspection, progress tracking, and close-out documentation provided a thorough record for MACA.