People living along the Souris River in Manitoba are hoping to get more information from provincial officials Friday about what exactly they’re supposed to do about a massive flood headed their way.
Earlier in the week, the province warned towns in southwest Manitoba that high water on the way from North Dakota reach record levels, requiring local dikes to be raised several feet.
The task is overwhelming to many in the small communities.
Souris Mayor Darryl Jackson is asking for help from the Province to make the necessary adjustments.
“If six feet is true, that takes us over the 1976 flood, which is the flood of record,” commented Mayor Jackson, ” We’re not sure we can go any higher in some areas… in some cases, in peoples’ backyards there would be a lot of trees that need to be moved.”
In Wawanesa, local officials were alarmed at initial word from the province that dikes in the village would have to be raised another 8 feet – a feat of engineering the mayor says would be virtually impossible. But the province said Thursday that estimate was a mistake, and in Wawanesa the dikes only needed to be strengthened not raised.
“Present dike levels appear to be sufficient, we’re going to have to strengthen what we got, but we should be fine,” Gullett said.
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