Manitoba introduces new flood boss

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s new flood forecaster, Fisaha Unduche, was officially introduced Monday.

“I’m very honoured and pleased,” he said of his appointment.

“He has been living in this province now for 10 years,” said Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Steve Ashton. “And he has been a key part of our flood-fighting team over the last five years.”

Flood-affected homeowners in Ste. Agathe said they’re hoping the new forecaster is accurate.

“He’s got a load to do. I wouldn’t want his job. It’s going to be a tough call, but it is what it is,” said Neil Friesen.

“It’s mother nature. I don’t know who can predict what and how accurate they’re going to be,” said another resident.

Unduche was hired from within the province’s flood team.

He came to Manitoba after a simple Internet search.

“When I was in Africa, I Googled, ‘Where is the best place for the water flood fighting?’ and Manitoba was one of the best places,” said Unduche.

He was part of the team that worked on forecasting the 2009 flood, which saw unpredictable and devastating ice jams north of Winnipeg, and the unprecedented 2011 flood along the Assiniboine River west of Winnipeg.

“We had a lot of precipitation and we had rain on top of snow melt that made things very challenging. The forecasting team did an excellent job forecasting with the tools they had,” said Unduche.

A detailed flood outlook is expected later this week. The risk is normal to below normal right now, Unduche said.

Last week the province’s fleet of Amphibex ice breakers began smashing up the frozen surface of the Red River north of Selkirk to help prevent ice jams.

Unduche replaces the province’s previous flood forecaster, Philip Mutulu, who left for a position in Alberta.