The province is in a high state of readiness for spring 2009 flooding, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton, minister responsible for emergency measures, announced.
“The province has made significant investments in flood protection measures such as community ring dike improvements and the Red River Floodway,” said Ashton. “The province has also invested countless hours working with municipal officials to ensure information and resources are available to help protect Manitobans.”
Municipalities in flood-prone areas and across the province must ensure emergency plans and the people responsible for the plans are ready, the minister said. Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) field agents have been working closely with the most flood-prone municipalities.
The flood forum recently in Morris was attended by about 80 municipal officials from the Red River Valley. A second forum will be held in Boissevain next Wednesday for communities along the Souris and Pembina rivers.
Community and municipal conference calls will be held on a regular basis. Provincial officials also confer with federal agencies such as the RCMP, Emergency Preparedness Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Other preparedness measures:
• Since 1997, roughly 95 per cent of the homes, businesses and farmyards in the Red River Valley have been flood proofed to the 1997 flood level plus 0.6 metres (two feet).
• Today, the floodway’s channel capacity is more than double what it was in 1997. The floodway expansion project is on schedule to provide one-in-700-year flood protection this spring.
• Once completed, the floodway will protect more than 450,000 residents, 140,000 homes, 8,000 businesses and will prevent $12 billion in flood damages.
Since its construction in 1968, it has been operated over 20 times and has prevented over $10 billion in flood damages.
Flood Proofing
• Since 1997, nearly 1,750 homes, businesses and farmyards have been protected by pads, ring dikes, relocation and buyouts.
• Nineteen community ring dikes have been raised, extended, or constructed. These communities include Rosenort, Morris, Brunkild, St. Jean Baptiste, Dominion City, St. Adolphe, Emerson, Letellier, Ste. Agathe, Grand Pointe, Niverville, Gretna, Aubigny, Lowe Farm, Riverside, St-Pierre-Jolys, Rosenfeld and Roseau River.
• Right now, the province has three million sandbags, 3,000 metres of flood tubes and two sandbagging machines ready to deploy if needed.
Ice Jam Mitigation
• This year, the ice-jam mitigation program will include three new ice-cutters and two full-time Amphibexes operating 24 hours a day as needed. The province purchased a new, stronger and heavier Amphibex this year to ensure the timely break-up of ice during the spring melt.
• Over the last two years, it has been estimated that ice-jam mitigation has saved the communities of Selkirk, Waterhen, Ralls Island, Whitemud River $3 million in flood-fighting costs.
Flood Emergency Response Planning
• In January 2009, Manitoba Water Stewardship updated its flood emergency action guidelines in anticipation of this year’s flooding.
• EMO will be co-ordinating daily briefings with municipalities as well as requests for assistance as required.
• EMO has been in constant contact with municipals councils and emergency coordinators in the Red River region throughout the year to ensure they are prepared this years spring flooding. As recently as March 10, EMO organized a meeting in Morris with municipal council and emergency coordinators.
“Each high water event in this province has its own characteristics and lessons to be learned,” said Ashton. “Nature can deliver severe weather in any season in our province, but we can weather just about anything by being prepared.”
