All eyes are on the Saint John River this week, as water levels in the Fredericton and Gagetown, N.B., areas are expected to reach and surpass flood stage this week.
There is a water level warning for the lower Saint John River. Both Fredericton and Gagetown nearly reached flood stage Monday and are forecast to surpass it on Tuesday.
The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NBEMO) says residents in these communities should be taking measures to protect their property, and have a plan to evacuate and be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
Water levels in Gagetown are expected to continue to be above flood stage for the rest of the week. According to the province’s River Watch program, this is “when flooding starts to cause significant costs to be incurred.”
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Paul Bradley, director of communications for the NBEMO, said rainfall from last week and warm temperatures over the weekend are contributing to the rising levels.
“A lot of places right now are pushing flood advisory, flood watch, flood alert and some places are forecasting that they will pass the flood stage in the next day or two,” said Bradley.
When water levels to rise, Bradley cautions people should stay away from the river banks.
“The footing is not stable around the edges, the water is cold, it’s moving fast, there is debris being carried down river with it. So we just ask people to stay away from there and be vigilant around those spaces,” he said.
In downtown Fredericton, businesses are already taking action to prepare.
Trevor Morgan, the general manager for the Crowne Plaza Fredericton, said his hotel is more prepared than in years past. They invested in a flood gate three years ago, which will be used to barricade the hotel’s rear entrance from the rising Saint John River.
“Flooding normally takes a portion of our parking lot, the walkway in front of the hotel is affected by flood waters, which doesn’t allow people to enjoy that during their time here. And at bad flood times, we have had flooding into the building itself,” said Morgan.
“(The flood gate) been tested twice now since we installed it, and it works very, very well.”
Flood warnings are also anticipated for the communities of Maugerville and Jemseg, and a flood watch is in effect for the Quispamsis-Saint John area.
River Watch officials will be developing river models and forecasts daily, using weather briefings from various sources.
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