Evacuation orders are already in place in the northern parts of Weitschel Provincial Park, as floods have affected hundreds of properties.
Amy Wereb, owner of Otter Falls Resort, is working to protect her property from rising waters. She worked in the sand and built a tiger dike, which failed to hold back the floods.
“It passed. It was drilled in the campsite. It kept the water until about three days ago, and then too much water started to enter,” Vereb said.
Vereb said it was the worst flooding she has seen in the area and is not over yet. The area expects another two feet of water over the next 10 days, she said.
“There are people here who are devastated. Their cabins are gone and that’s all they had,” Vereb said. “This is not just a villa for people in summer and spring to come and enjoy. This is the life of the people here.
IN PHOTOS: “Striking” flood in Weitschel Provincial Park
Manitoba Prime Minister Heather Stephenson, along with government officials, took an air tour of Whiteshell Provincial Park on Tuesday as the area copes with significant flooding.
Stephenson said they flew over Caddy, West Hawk Lake and Falcon Lake and said several areas had been completely washed away, adding that several homes had been affected.
“There’s so much water there, it’s amazing,” Stephenson said. “Our thoughts go to those who have been negatively affected.”
Stephenson said the area’s water level was still rising.
“We have water coming from the south of us, now we have water coming from the east of us. So we are surrounded by it,” Stephenson said. “This is nothing new for the Manitoba people, I think we’ve dealt with floods in the past, but the difference is that they come from all angles.”
With a local state of emergency declared in the Betula Lake area late last week, the province ordered an evacuation in the northern part of the park – including Sylvia, Eleanor, Nutimik and Lake Betula, along with the Otter and Barrier Bay waterfalls.
A provincial spokesman said that although he did not track the exact number of people affected by the evacuation orders, there were about 600 villas and 500 campsites.
Manitoba’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Doyle Pivnyuk said the province needs to be assessed before determining what support will be offered to those affected by the floods.
“We are currently in a state of reaction. We want to make sure that everyone is safe, everyone protects their property as much as possible, “Pivnyuk said.
NDP leader Wab Kinew was also part of the flyover and said what was seen was astounding.
“Villas, homes, businesses, huts are affected by both the floods and the evacuation orders. Our hearts are with everyone who is affected. There is so much water right now,” Kineu said.
High water levels wash away Highway 307 and lead to the evacuation of several hundred residents of the area northeast of Winnipeg, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. CANADIAN PRESS / John Woods
Kinew also acknowledged the work done by provincial workers, along with emergency teams, to help the area cope with the floods, saying revitalization in difficult times is what Manitoba is doing.
Vereb said her resort was already closed due to evacuation orders.
“There is devastation here. We need help,” she said. “We’re being shut down now, but when it’s all over, there will be a big mess to clean up and there won’t be a Whiteshell to come this summer if we don’t clean up the mess after all is done.”
Her two children will remain with their family, while she and her husband remain trying to save their property.
-with files from Taylor Brock from CTV
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