Torrential rains and widespread flooding throughout southern Alberta on Thursday forced the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway and isolated the mountain resort towns of Banff and Canmore.
The flooding washed out roads and bridges, left at least one person missing and caused cars, couches and refrigerators to float away.
Communities were hit hard just south of Calgary, a city of more than a million people that hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Many downtown neighborhoods were ordered evacuated as the evening went on. Officials said the evacuation would take place in stages over the next few days. The province reported that 12 communities were under states of emergency.
