Winnipeg seeks plan to handle debris after extreme weather

The City of Winnipeg is planning for potential extreme weather events and how to deal with the aftermath.

The City of Winnipeg wants to be better prepared for the potential aftermath of storms and other extreme weather events.

The city issued a request for proposals (RFP) last week for a consultant to devise a plan to address how post-disaster clean-ups are handled within city limits.

“Winnipeg is known for extreme weather conditions, including winter storms and spring floods,” the RFP states. “Climate change is anticipated to intensify these conditions and frequency of events.”

The city said natural and human-caused events like tornadoes, floods, storms, and fires can leave behind substantial amounts of debris after damaging trees, buildings, and other infrastructure.

The RFP noted the city’s regular waste management operations could be overwhelmed by a significant spike in building materials, tree branches, and other debris to process.

“Debris removal is an important key to timely recovery of business, the viability of neighbourhoods and the continuity of government. Failure to act in a timely manner may impact community health and economic recovery.”

The city wants a consultant to come up with a detailed clean-up plan that could include implementing temporary waste storage sites and coordinating curbside pickups after a weather event. The RFP notes the plan would be part of the city’s overall emergency response strategy.

The RFP deadline is set for April 14.

The city wants a final disaster debris management plan to be finished by Nov. 13.