Water is spreading across land, slowly flowing from the controlled breach at Hoop and Holler Bend, swallowing farm fields, and forcing Manitobans from their homes.
The province said water is moving 400 cubic feet per second, flowing into the Elm River Channel, after crews intentionally breached a 20 metre hole in the dike Saturday morning.
So far it has reached three protected homes, but none have been flooded.
“The way to describe it?” said Shea Doherty, who can now see the water approaching his family farm less than a mile away. “Waiting in a dentist chair for your appointment,” she said.
The effort to relieve stress and pressure on the swollen Assiniboine River has added the same thing to families now in the water’s path.
Doherty has a lot to loose.
“Greenhouse operation, my livelihood, friendships, neighbors,” he says.
For others, financial worries will come later.
“It’s the furthest thing from my mind right now,” said Robert Stranger, a resident who says he’s frustrated with the lack of communication from officials.
“I’m worried about people getting things protected, and everything going well and nobody getting hurt or dying,” he said.
Residents in the community of Newton shared that feeling Sunday. They said they have no idea how fast the water will reach their community. All they can do is help sandbag neighbors who need protection, and wait.
“It’s hard; it’s kind of like that unknown force that’s coming towards us. We just don’t know when exactly it’s going to hit,” says Kim Tooth, resident of Newton.
The province said it will offer special compensation packages to those affected by flood waters from the controlled breach, but have not yet released details.
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