Flood concerns continue as province hit by heavy rain

Communities along the St. John River in western New Brunswick are dealing with flooding and many parts of the province are experiencing periods of heavy rain on Wednesday.

Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings in southern New Brunswick and predicts about 20 millimetres of rain will fall near the Fundy Coast.

In areas around Fredericton, heavy rain is expected to give way to ice pellets, freezing rain and snow on Wednesday.

The province’s Emergency Measures Organization is continuing to warn people living along the province’s various river systems to be on alert in the next few days of rising water and ice movement.

The provincial government issued an alert on Tuesday afternoon that said the predicted temperatures and rainfall could see continued melting of the snow pack and the deterioration of ice covers.

“River flows are forecast to increase throughout the basin and there is a high probability of ice movement along the St. John River and other river systems across the province within the next two days,” according to an advisory released by the provincial government.

“With ice movement there is the potential for ice jams to occur as well as associated flooding. People living in all regions should be prepared and remain a safe distance away from waterways.

The Anglophone West School District has closed Woodstock Centennial, Woodstock Middle School and Woodstock High School because of “physical plant problems with water” on Wednesday.

NB Power is reporting roughly 1,100 customers are without power in the Woodstock, Hartland and Cloverdale area.

Woodstock residents are now under an order to boil drinking water due to flooding. As well, King Street, Water Street and the New Brunswick Community College parking lot are closed because of flooding.

There were tense moments earlier this week for a farmer in Red Bridge, who nearly lost his cattle.

Wayne Martin had to wade into the freezing flood waters to rescue a one-month-old calf who had left its barn, after the water became too high.

Martin was eventually able to rescue his other cattle from the flooded barn.

There were flood problems in other parts of the province.

Fredericton firefighters were called out to a couple of flood related calls on Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called to a home in the Devon neighbourhood at about 4:30 a.m. after flood water was up over the furnace in the basement.

Platoon Captain Mike Mizner said they were also out to Kingsley Road where a home was in danger of being cut off because of a flooded culvert.

The Harvey Fire Department said on Twitter on Wednesday morning that it had responded to a two-vehicle accident at the 4100 block of Hanwell Road and Route 640. The department said water is over the road.

Ice jams have formed in several areas, including:

Nashwaak River at Taymouth.

Canaan River at Hwy 2 and Route 112 junction.

Hammond River between the Route 860 and Lakeside Road intersection to one kilometre above the French Village Covered bridge or Hwy 1.

Smith Creek River near the Oldfield Road.

Southwest Miramichi in the rural Community of Upper Miramichi at the Cache Road and downstream from the Priceville footbridge.

Rockwell Stream, which has caused flooding at the Broad Road in Geary.