Crumbling dike threatens Western Manitoba First Nation
A crumbling dike south of Highway 45 is threatening several communities in Western Manitoba, where preparations are being made for a surge of water down the Birdtail Creek.
Doug McNeil, flood spokesman and Deputy Minister for Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation, said the province is worried an old rail line north of Waywayseecappo First Nation which is acting as a dike on the Birdtail Creek, will give way, sending water through to communities downstream.
McNeil said the embankment has been eroding due to a frozen culvert that isn't allowing water through to ease pressure on the embankment.
The province is looking for more pumps to send to the area to help move the water along.
"There was a second slide that was reported this morning, very close to the first slide near the top of the embankment on the downstream side," said McNeil. "It is a dangerous situation."
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger headed to flooded areas of western Manitoba on Monday. Birtle, Miniota, Rossburn and Waywayseecappo First Nation are all downstream on Birdtail Creek.
The Assiniboine River is also facing flood warnings between the Shellmouth Dam and Brandon.
The province warned that virtually all points along the Little Saskatchewan River and Fisher River are at-risk of imminent flooding. And Smith Creek plus streams in the Interlake—including the Icelandic River—are facing high water advisories as well.
Although Fisher River levels, the river which flows through Peguis First Nation, have started to go down, water depths remain high at around 3-metres — close to twice as high as normal — with some worried that rain predicted to fall over the next few days could worsen conditions.
Selinger met with officials in Birtle, on the Birdtail Creek, where 20 homes in the town and surrounding area have been evacuated as a precautionary measure. So far, 43 people are away from their homes in that area.
Ron Bell, the emergency measures public information manager for both the town and the RM of Birtle, told CBC News the flooding could begin at any time, so crews are raising earth dikes and putting temporary tube dams in place.
He said there is positive news as of Monday morning — it appears the crest of the flooding creek has passed.
"That's good news for us because every foot the water goes down it gives us an extra foot of capacity when the [dike breaches and the] water comes," Bell said.
Selinger also made a stop at Waywayseecappo on Monday afternoon, where 64 people, 12 homes and residents of a senior citizens complex have been forced from their homes as a precaution. Most of the evacuees are at a hotel in Russell.
Chief Melville Wabash worries about a number of essential buildings that could be flooded.
"We're talking grocery store, gas bar, RCMP detachment, daycare," he said.
No evacuations have taken place on the Birdtail Sioux First Nation, but Chief Nelson Bunn is keeping a close eye on the "Birdtail River" as he now calls the creek.
Portions of the reserve are being flooded but in areas away from homes.
At the request of the Waywayseecappo chief and council, the province is sending out super sandbags and regular sandbags to help further protect the community.
The province has four pumps on the way to Waywayseecappo to start relieving pressure from behind the embankment.
Both sandbagging and pumping will begin Monday evening.
Premier Selinger praised the resiliency of the community and commitment of volunteers and emergency measures staff.
Meanwhile, people living in Peguis First Nation remain on high alert.
Although the Fisher River has crested and is slowly receding, there is rain in the forecast and there is fear it could raise the levels again.
Some 131 people were forced to leave over the weekend as the swollen river washed over its banks and surrounded homes.
Betsy-Jane McCorrister and Aaron Hart are waiting things out in a Winnipeg hotel.
The couple usually lives with McCorrister's parents and little sister in Peguis First Nation, but late last week rising water forced them out.
"We were being told the water is going all over the road and everything. When we got there we saw what they meant," said Hart. "You couldn't even see the road — it was just right under water."
A few years ago, McCorrister said flooding kept her family out of their home for two months.
"It's lonesome. Like, we see our nieces every day and we miss them," said McCorrister.
Chief Glenn Hudson said officials on the First Nation are watching the water levels after a hectic weekend of sandbagging.
Hudson said if there is a lot of rain, it could put more homes at risk.
"We did have 28 homes protected. We'll be assessing that today now that it has dropped somewhat, but given that the rain is coming it may raise the level of the river," he said.
Peguis resident Nicole Sutherland's house is not at risk of flooding right now, but the flood has left her with contaminated drinking water and sewer backup.
Sutherland said road access to her house was also cut off by the rising water a few days ago, but band officials tell her it is Indian and Northern Affairs that is refusing to approve evacuation of her family.
"I've been having to haul water to the tub for the kids and just really trying to keep up with the mud and the sewer problem in my house," said Sutherland. "With five little kids ... I think we should have been on a priority list to be out of here."
There are plans for more permanent flood-proofing, such as raising roads, but that work has yet to begin, Hudson said.
"And the long term solution is to have, like a causeway, that would take off the headwater from the river and divert it away," said Hudson.
Hudson said this is the seventh flood his community has had to deal with in five years and they did the best they could this year with the resources they had.
Hudson asked the federal government for $2-million for flood prep, but only received $2,000.
Permanent flood protection is expected to cost $90 million.
The First Nation has already spent $35 million on temporary protection over the past few years battling incessant floods.
