PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – The swollen North Saskatchewan River is expected to peak Saturday in the city of Prince Albert, where about 50 residents are on alert to leave their homes.
Saskatchewan emergency management commissioner Duane McKay says the area likely won’t flood, but it is the highest risk in the community.
The river is forecast to rise 4.6 metres above the current level.
McKay says the biggest area of concern is still in the northern village of Cumberland House and the Cumberland House Cree Nation, which are downstream of where the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers meet.
About 2,200 people from the community have already left their homes.
McKay says the peak is expected to reach Cumberland House some time between July 10 and 15.
“One of the reasons that the community decided to evacuate the village and the First Nation was related to the access to the community,” said McKay.
“There’s approximately … 2,200 folks that live in there and obviously would consume a fair amount of resources that would not be produced in the community, so without being able to have regular access to the community that creates significant issues. People run out of food, water, chemicals for treating water, and so on.
“If the road is cut off then how do you re-supply the village and the First Nation community?”
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Community leaders in Cumberland House have tried to assure people that their homes and pets are safe.
Cree Nation Chief Lorne Stewart and Mayor Val Deschambeault said Wednesday that there are 110 people in the community – emergency workers, heavy equipment contractors, medical personnel and security. They are protecting infrastructure and feeding pets.
Meanwhile, officials believe the North Saskatchewan River has peaked in the North Battleford area and is receding.
Water from the river reached a barricade that was built around a water treatment plant in North Battleford, but the barrier held. The water treatment plant was shut down earlier this week as a precaution. A second plant is still operating.
The North and South Saskatchewan Rivers are swollen as floodwaters from Alberta head east.
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