The City of Winnipeg today warned homeowners along low-lying areas of the Red River to get ready to sandbag -- and everyone else in the city to prepare for possible basement flooding.
The warning comes as workers started breaking up thick ice north of Selkirk to prevent big ice jams that caused severe flooding in Selkirk two years ago.
In Winnipeg, officials said this year’s forecasted flood could require between 50,000 and 760,000 sandbags, which would be sent out to 292 homes that need to shore up flood defences. Most of the homes are along the river-side of Scotia Avenue, Turnbull Drive and Kingston Row.
Barry MacBride, director of the city’s Water and Waste Department, said these homeowners are already aware of the flood risk and will be contacted by the city about this spring’s preparations. Officials said it’s too early to sandbag now, as there is still snow on the ground and the earth underneath is frozen.
All Winnipeggers who live along the rivers should move or secure any structures or equipment near the water’s edge, such as docks, sheds, gazebos, irrigation pumps and recreational equipment, officials advised, noting that rising river levels will affect each property owner differently.
MacBride also said homeowners should make sure their sewer back-up valves are working. Those with sump pumps should also make sure they’re in working order.
On Monday the province said Winnipeg and the Red River Valley is likely to experience a flood similar to 1979 and 1950, but likely not as severe as the \"Flood Of The Century\" in 1997.
Smaller communities may see residents evacuated, ring dikes closed and water covering highways and considerable farmland.
Such a flood is expected even if temperatures and precipitation levels don’t rise above average in the coming weeks. The bulk of the water is moving north from Minnesota and North Dakota, which received a large amount of snowfall over the past month.
City and provincial officials say the city and the rest of the Red River Valley -- from the U.S. border to Selkirk -- are much better prepared to withstand a large flood than it was in 1997, including a widened floodway.
At Selkirk, crews will work over the next few weeks to break up as much ice as possible so that when high water moves up from the U.S. it pushes the broken ice north without jamming at two bridges.
The goal is for flood water to flush ice into Netley Creek without spilling into low-lying areas of Selkirk or threatening homes north of Selkirk. |
