The Interlake region of Manitoba is the last to feel the effects of the extreme weather, with many municipalities in a local state of emergency as communities struggle with severe flooding.
In Arborg, the Icelandic river overflowed its banks. Although it has shrunk by a few inches since Sunday night, some properties on the outskirts of the city are still flooded.
Just outside Arborg and down the floodplain is Riverdale Place Home, a facility home to four people living with disabilities.
They were all forced to leave after several feet of flooding threatened their homes.
“Even this morning he seemed to be invading and suddenly he came. “Obviously there was a road that broke through,” said Katie Finson, CEO of the company that runs the home.
Fire crews and volunteers are working hard to pack sand and create dams to protect the home.
“We appreciate the community for the way they helped,” said Leroy Lowen of the Arborg Fire Department. “For example, we worked a 10-hour shift making 10,000 sacks of sand, so we really appreciate the variety of community groups that come to help.”
The city of Arborg has declared a local state of emergency and 15 homes have been evacuated so far. According to emergency officials, the community is used to floods due to ice jams, but not high river levels like this.
“Most of the water comes from the land, ends up in the river and goes down to the lake through Arborg and Riverton. So you only see part of it here, because it’s still in the field, it hasn’t reached the river yet, “said Doug Anderson, a public information officer at the Northeast Interlake Emergency Council.
The city said the river had shrunk by an inch or two since Sunday night, giving some hope during times of stress.
“It’s been many, many, many years – probably 30 or 40 – since it was so high,” said Ron Johnston, the city’s deputy mayor.
Arborg officials hope the coat of arms has already happened, but are not entirely sure. Currently, almost every community on the Red River or other major tributary is under flood warning.
The municipality said it hoped for the best and was preparing for the worst – something that people involved in water are grateful for.
“I hope we can be back in a few days and it’s certainly an attempt to learn how quickly something like this can happen. I’m pretty shocked about that, “Finson said.
According to Finson, all were moved to one of the company’s three other group homes.
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