Provincial crews open the Lake St. Martin emergency channel. (GOVERNMENT OF MANITOBA)
Water levels on the majority of Manitoba’s rivers and lakes in the southwest are continuing to rise after last weekend’s rainfall.
About 565 people have been forced from their homes as a result of flooding.
Evacuees include the rural municipalities of Albert, Archie, Cameron, Edward, Miniota, Pipestone, Siglunes and Wallace, the town of Virden, the Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, the Ebb and Flow First Nation, the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, the Waywayseecappo First Nation and the Peguis First Nation.
As of late Wednesday, 43 municipalities and communities have declared a state of local emergency, including the latest additions of Glenwood and North Cyprus.
The Assiniboine River at Brandon is forecast to peak at 32,000 to 35,000 cfs on or around July 6 to 7. Flood protection, such as permanent diking, put in place following the 2011 flood will help protect the city.
The Red River is continuing to rise at all points in the province, but is declining in the U.S. The river in Winnipeg measured 17.5 feet at James Avenue and is expected to remain above 14 feet until mid-July.
To help ease the water levels in rural Manitoba, the province opened the Lake St. Martin emergency channel on Wednesday. Flows are expected to begin by Friday morning and the channel will be fully open by Saturday.
Late today, MTS donated $25,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’ Manitoba division to support flood relief efforts in the province. The company will also be waiving temporary disconnect fees for MTS home phone, Internet and TV customers who have been evacuated from areas where a state of emergency has been declared as a result of recent flooding.
See the province’s flood website for additional information.
