Flood-prone Fort McMurray community still can't rebuild

Some Fort McMurray residents are growing frustrated with the slow pace of rebuilding their community after last May's devastating wildfire.

Residents who live in the flood-prone area in Waterways are still waiting to sign waivers that say they understand the risk of rebuilding in a flood zone, but the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has given them no indication on when those letters will arrive. Owners have been waiting for more than a month to sign them.

"It's like they forgot about Waterways," resident Angela Hewat said."They don't seem to want to help."

• Fort McMurray's Waterways subdivision given green light to rebuild
• Fire-ravaged, flood-prone Fort McMurray community wants to rebuild despite risk

May's wildfire destroyed almost all the homes and businesses in the Fort McMurray subdivision. Since it sits on a floodplain, rebuilding the homes in Waterwaysrequired special permission from the provincial government, which will soon pass legislationpreventing any community construction in zones prone to flooding.

In October, the Alberta government guaranteed the municipality it will provide disaster recovery funding in case of a future flood.

But before rebuilding, the municipality said residents must sign legal documents that indicate owners understand the risks of building on a floodplain. Those documents must be transferred with the property titles, the municipality said. It's in the process of drafting those documents.

Update ASAP

In an email, a municipal spokesperson acknowledged the amount of time it's taking and said it will have a better update for residents by next week.

"There are conversations taking place between various municipal departments, including legal and legislative services and planning & development, on the topic of Waterways," the email said.

"With numerous stakeholders involved, we are doing our due diligence to ensure these stakeholders are engaged in the process, and look forward to providing the resilient residents of Waterways with an update as soon as possible."

Six months later: A drive around a fire ravaged community rebuilding

8 years ago

Duration 0:38

Take a drive with CBC reporter David Thurton as he tours Waterways. Mays wildfire destroyed over 300 homes in this Fort McMurray community.

Those conversations are too late for Angela Hewat.She's already sold her mobile home in Waterways because she's under-insured and was unsure about her community's future.

"No. I'm done. It's just too much," she said."I wasn't sleeping. I felt like my anxiety was going through the roof."

Although Waterways resident Tracy Holland doesn't live in the community's flood zone and can rebuild, she's uneasy about breaking ground.She worries that rebuilding in a flood zone will devalue her property.

"So then we look at this and we go, 'Do we really want to put $500,000 into a new home in a location that has no plans?'" she said.

Holland said she'll make up her mind to rebuild when the municipality sorts out the confusion around the waivers and there's a clearer idea of what will be done with homes that won't be reconstructedin the flood zone.

She'll remain in Athabascauntil then.

Follow David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitterand viaemail.