Officials from the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization (NB EMO) are warning people to be prepared for heavy rainfall, freezing rain and snow during the weekend. They’re warning New Brunswickers to be on alert for power outages, icy and hazardous roads, walkways and parking lots, along with downed branches that could result from ice buildup.
In a news release, officials said residents should take action to protect their properties by ensuring drains are cleared and should secure items that could become damaged from wind and rain.
In an afternoon news conference, NB EMO communications director Robert Duguay said people should have their emergency kits ready.
“We have to be prepared for anything and particularly for power outages so that’s the main concern as we speak and that’s why we encourage residents to be ready for anything and have everything they need to look after themselves for a few days,” Duguay said.
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NB Power spokesperson Marie-Andrée Bolduc was also in attendance and said they have their usual compliment of crews ready to go, along with extra help if necessary.
“We’ve also contacted contractor crews across the province to make sure that they were available if required,” Bolduc said.
Bolduc said they’ll be carefully monitoring the weather system over the weekend and said people should report any power outages they may experience.
Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Claude Côté said some parts of the province could get six to eight hours of freezing rain, while the southern parts could get excessive amounts of precipitation.
“We’re looking at 50 to 80 mm of rain in general for southern New Brunswick, some areas along the Fundy coast will probably see figures approaching 100 mm of rain so that’s a month worth of rainfall amounts,” said Côté.
The Acadian peninsula, which was hardest hit by the 2017 ice storm, will see freezing rain and snow and says conditions could be hazardous but he says it doesn’t appear people there will end up in a critical situation at this point.
Officials said the department of transportation is also ready to close roads across the province and says crews have been removing ice from the previous storm.
NB EMO also said people who have experienced flooding in the past due to heavy rain should take all necessary precautions and move items to higher ground and out of basements or other low-lying structures.
Anyone who experiences flooding should call NB EMO at 1-800-561-4034.
City of Fredericton preparing for weekend rainfall
City of Fredericton corporate strategy and safety services director Wayne Tallon said the weekend forecast is concerning in terms of localized flooding on some city streets.
He said city crews are ready and have been out for the last several days clearing out catch basins and storm sewers and making sure culverts are clear of debris so that the water has somewhere to go.
“We’re also asking the public to help us out as well,” Tallon said. “If they could clear catch basins or storm sewers in front of their homes and on their streets, especially the side streets, that would certainly go along way to help us.”
Tallon said residents should make sure their drains are clear and their spouts are facing away from their homes so they don’t get any flooding in their homes.
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Tallon said people should stay informed and watch for any advisories posted online by city staff.
He said the risk of winter flooding is rare and hasn’t happened in almost a decade.
“The last time that we experienced this was back in 2010 and it happened in December when we had a melt just like we’re having right now, but it is very rare,” Tallon said.
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