Peguis First Nation stays on flood watch as river recedes
Members of the Peguis First Nation are closely watching the Fisher River, where water levels started to recede on Sunday but could cause more flooding in the coming days.
A total of 115 people from the Manitoba First Nation have been forced from their homes this weekend due to river flooding.
The evacuees are staying temporarily at hotels in Winnipeg, said Peguis Chief Glenn Hudson.
About 50 homes were surrounded by water as of Sunday, the CBC's Chris Glover reported from the First Nation.
Band officials said the flooding — which has been blamed on ice jams in the river — appeared to be receding as of Sunday morning, but rain and wet snow are in the forecast for the area starting in the evening.
Peguis resident Carrie Sutherland said her home hasn't been affected by flooding, and sandbagging work appears to have slowed to a trickle.
However, she said she's saddened that the First Nation has become so accustomed to spring flooding that children have been playing on sandbags, unaware of the dangers they protect against.
Sutherland, who is the First Nation's education director, said she's worried the 850 children at the local school could miss many days of study as a result of the flooding.
