Uncertainty and stress for flood-stricken Manitoba cities with more clouds on the horizon | CBC News


Manitoba municipalities already facing major flooding are preparing for the worst: another possible downpour this weekend.

Things are especially bad in southern Manitoba, where many communities are sandbagging and building levees.

Highway 75 in Morris will close Friday to protect the city from rising Red River.

Crews were piling up mud on the road Wednesday to prepare for the closure of the circular levee around the community.

Morris Mayor Scott Crick says the unpredictable weather has been a challenge to navigate. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

Mayor Scott Crick says water is lapping up the underside of the bridge into Morris, and the weather has been so unpredictable lately that it’s impossible to know how long it will be closed, especially in light of this weekend’s rains that could happen. bypass Manitoba entirely or bring 15 to 25mm of rain, says CBC meteorologist John Sauder.

“Best case scenario is the levee is closed, the water goes up for a few days and recedes quickly. Worst case scenario is we could be closed for two to four weeks like we were in 2011,” Crick said.

Crews pile up mud on Highway 75 near Morris Tuesday in preparation for the closure of the circular levee around the community on Friday. (Alana Cole/CBC)

Chris Propp, director of water infrastructure for the province, says crews are on site 24 hours a day.

“They are closely monitoring river levels and taking some steps now to keep that road open as long as possible,” Propp told CBC Manitoba. noon radio On Wednesday.

pumping in progress

Elsewhere, pumping operations are underway at most of the ring dams, including Emerson, Morris, St. Adolphe, St. Agathe, Rosenort, Brunkild, Riverside, Letellier and Dominion City, he said.

The Red River floodway remains in operation, as well as the Shellmouth Dam and the Portage Bypass.

Jay Doering, a flood expert and professor of civil engineering at the University of Manitoba, says the province will have to prepare for “what if” scenarios in the event of more rainfall this weekend.

Drone video footage captured Tuesday morning from Winkler, Man. A damaged culvert near Winkler caused floodwaters to rise Monday night. With the help of the fire department and community members, the water was redirected over the levee to a nearby field. (Submitted by Joey Siemens)

“We have kind of a playbook for what to do based on the flows we expect to see in the Red or Assiniboine rivers, so I think we stick to the plan,” he said. “But it’s important that we look at the what-if scenarios: What if we get 20 millimeters of rain? What if we get 40, 60 or, God forbid, one of the models shows 80 millimeters of rain between now and next Wednesday. .

“It’s important to know what the impact of those what-if scenarios is so we can start making appropriate plans now.”

People who lived through the 1997 floods may be concerned about the ability to prevent damage, but Propp says the province has learned a lot since then:

  • The floodway has been widened and there are better standards for infrastructure within the Red River Valley.
  • Older developments are protected to a one in 100 year flood stage, which is roughly equivalent to the 1997 flood, and newer developments and ring levees must meet the one in 200 flood stage standard. years.
  • Upgrades are planned for older developments and levees.

“In terms of infrastructure, we are certainly in better shape than we were in 1997,” Propp said.

In another development, the Red River peaked Wednesday in Grand Forks, ND, reports the National Weather Service.

That’s about 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) below the 1997 flood crest and about four feet (1.2 meters) below the 2011 crest.

The river is expected to rise in Pembina, North Dakota, just outside of Emerson, Man. — on May 4 to a level 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) below the 1997 level and 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) below the 2011 level.

Wet weather in forecast worries Red River Valley residents

Manitoba municipalities already facing major flooding are preparing for the worst: another possible downpour this weekend. Things are especially bad in southern Manitoba, where many communities are sandbagging and building levees. 2:06



Reference-www.cbc.ca

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