SELKIRK — As Red River water levels continues to rise, the threat of flooding in Selkirk and surrounding communities grows more real.
“We just don’t have enough water flow to get this ice moving,” said Darrell Kupchuk, Selkirk’s emergency co-ordinator. “The ice is previously broken, however, there’s just not enough water coming down to get this big heavy thick ice moving.”
Ice jams could be seen for kilometres north of Selkirk Monday morning and water levels climbed almost two metres. Until the water receded, places like the Marine Museum of Manitoba were under threat.
Museum manager Shay Nordal said in the morning, emergency measures officials warned them a sudden rise in water could come within a couple of hours.
Nordal said the water dropped, but just to be on the safe side, the museum has moved all its valuables to higher ground.
The Selkirk bridge is closed because Highway 204 is under water on the east side of the Red River in the rural municipality of St. Clements.
St. Clements is prepared for the most part, Mayor Steve Strang said.
“It’s hard. It’s really hard for the people, but I’m very proud to say St. Clements has been aggressive … willing to be positive, forward-thinking,” Strang said. “We’re 99 per cent flood-protected here.”
The one per cent who are not protected live along Cooks Creek in St Clement. All morning property owners like the Robinsons watched as water came uncomfortably close to their homes before going back down.
Officials on both sides of the river said aside from topping up dikes, not much can be done.
While there are no immediate threats to any homes, officials said that could quickly change if warmer weather doesn’t arrive soon.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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