WINNIPEG– City flood officials said fewer sandbags will be needed to help at-risk properties due to the operation of the Red River Floodway.
READ: 50 Winnipeg properties at risk of flooding
The 47 kilometre Red River Floodway was operated for the first time in three years at 10 a.m. Friday and water levels had lowered within city limits after only a few hours.
On Thursday, officials said 50 homes were deemed at-risk due to rising waters but that number was reduced to 25 homes by Friday. The number of sandbags being prepared for the weekend has also dropped from 75,000 to 20,000.
“All the people that are at risk at this time we’ve been in contact with and continue to work with,” Chris Carroll, Manager of Waste Water Services for the City of Winnipeg said.
“We’ve been able to reduce the range of properties that may need the use of sandbag protection this weekend,”
Although river levels are dropping, the risk for flooding still exists. Dike construction is still ongoing around at-risk homes on Cloutier Drive.
“All you need is a couple of big chunks of ice blocking the river and in a very localized area you’ll get a rapid increase really quickly,” a concerned Cloutier Drive resident told Global News.
The rest of the province was still seeing water rise due to a combination of ice jams and spring runoff.
Forecasters said soil moisture is very high following a wet fall, and river and lake levels are above normal in some areas.
RELATED: Manitoba’s flood forecast rated as moderate to major: Province
Officials said they’ve put flood-fighting gear — including steamers and pumps — in the southwest and are in touch with municipal emergency co-ordinators.
Files from The Canadian Press
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