Sandbags are assembled in St. Francois Xavier, Manitoba on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (CHRISD.CA)
Workers from Manitoba Hydro will assist with flood preparations west of Winnipeg.
Hydro is sending crews to help sandbag in the RMs of St. Francois, Cartier and Portage la Prairie at the request of the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO).
As of Monday, 38 Hydro crewmen, along with trucks and other heavy equipment, have been marshalled at the Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation yard south of Portage la Prairie and are loading sandbags for transport to the flood-stricken area. Over 80 staff are anticipated to be in place by Tuesday afternoon.
“We received a formal request for assistance early this morning,” said Scott Thomson, president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. “Because we have lots of experience in assembling work crews and in performing flood protection work, we thought it only right to provide what staff and equipment we could to help residents and local authorities in the area.”
Crews will focus on protecting infrastructure and homes in the area from the rising waters of the Assiniboine River.
