Water levels continue to rise in areas across Canada, as several more communities declared states of emergency on Thursday.
Areas in Northwestern and Central Ontario are under flood warnings and flood watches. Several areas including Attawapiskat First Nations and Minden Hills have issued states of emergencies. Approximately 234 people have been evacuated from Kashechwan to Kapuskasing. The Mattagami First Nation chose to self-evacuate residents to Timmins. Ice breakups are causing waters to rise, prompting more communities to be on the alert. Of concern to the Ministry of Natural Resources is an ice jam which has moved towards James Bay. There is another ice jam near Moose Factory Island. Trent-Severn Waterway officials estimate that flooding will take at least two weeks for waters to begin receding in the Gull River system in the County of Haliburton. Several roads including Spring Valley Road and Shuyler’s Road remain closed.
In Saskatchewan, ten communities have declared states of emergency. Wilton, near Lloydminster on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border was the latest community to make the declaration. The Social Services Department said that about 75 residents had to leave their homes on the Poundmaker reserve, and 200 were on alert to leave Onion Lake. Roads were washed away and residents filled sandbags in an effort to save their homes.
The province’s Water Security Agency released a spillway on Wednesday in response to ice jams and large upstream flows on the Saskatchewan River near Tobin Lake. The agency also expects to see a lot of snow melt this weekend as temperatures start to rise.
In Manitoba, many roads have been closed. A flood watch has been upgraded to a flood warning along the Assiniboine River in the south of the province. The area is expecting warmer weather over the weekend, which will increase melting and runoff.
–with files from Lara Schroeder, Global News and the Canadian Press
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