RESTON, Man. – Premier Greg Selinger toured flood-damaged Reston, Man., on Canada Day.
The western Manitoba community was hard hit by flooding last week and Selinger said those affected will be eligible for disaster financial assistance.
“Our emergency people are here and they will work with the town to make sure we get all the admin paperwork done as quickly as possible to provide immediate relief and immediately rebuild,” he said.
More than half the community’s 600 residents were affected by flash flooding that washed over the town twice in a week after heavy rainfall. About 300 millimetres of rain fell in five days.
The town is slowly starting to return to normal.
“It’s been a long week for everybody, really,” said Matt Tracey, manager of North American Lumber in Reston.
He self-evacuated and spent the night at his business after his home was flooded, with six feet of water in the basement and floodwater half a metre deep against the side of his home.
“We’re still trying to dry up down here, but it’s coming along,” he said.
Ross Tycoles, reeve of the Rural Municipality of Pipestone, where Reston is located, said it will take a long time to clean up the community.
“Around the RM we have around 84 washed-out roads and two or three major culverts, bridges that are out,” he said.
The road to the Reston landfill was closed because of the flooding, and the schoolyard has become a temporary garbage dump filled with flood-damaged goods.
The RM is helping residents by picking up flood-damaged items, including assistance getting items to the curb for those who need it. Residents are also being advised to take photos of damaged property for disaster financial assistance claims.
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