Emergency officials in Atlantic Canada are assessing the damage from the latest barrage of coastal flooding and high winds as a storm continues to pound parts of the region.
An official with the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization said Wednesday early assessments showed over 160 buildings along the province’s eastern coast were damaged by a powerful storm surge that combined with 100 kilometre per hour gusts.
Meghan Cumby, a spokeswoman for the agency, said about 100 residents had left their homes for higher ground when the flooding began on Tuesday.
She said much of the province’s eastern shore from Shediac to Miramichi had experienced flooding and some coastal roads were closed.
"We’re also aware of three to four sea walls that have sustained damage in Northumberland County," she added.
Environment Canada had predicted a storm surge of up to three metres and wharfs in Shediac, Richibucto, Pointe du Chene and Bouctouche ended up under water as a result.
Forecasters predicted a change in the wind’s direction to northerly on Wednesday and while a storm surge warning remained in effect, the seas were expected to diminish.
Flooding was also an ongoing concern in Cape Breton, particularly in and around the Sydney area, where police reported as many as seven roads were closed because they were impassable.
Staff Sgt. Paul Muise of the Cape Breton Regional Police said conditions hadn’t changed as of early Wednesday.
"I was out to Dominion Beach and the boardwalk is damaged because of the waves," said Muise. "There’s lots of damage around and there’s lots of water crossing the roads and coming off hills."
A number of roads also remained closed in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County. In Prince Edward Island, several roads and bridges remained closed on Wednesday due to damage from the storm surge.
Detours were set up to cope with flooding of small bridges over rivers and officials warned motorist to drive with caution to avoid fallen tree branches and debris.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Environment Canada predicted heavy rainfall in the same area of the Burin Peninsula that sustained damage during hurricane Igor.
Strong winds were striking eastern Newfoundland and Labrador early in the day.
Meanwhile, utilities continued to work to restore power after the storm damage.
More than 1,000 customers of NB Power still had no electricity, while storm damage to most electrical equipment in Nova Scotia has been repaired for now.
Marine Atlantic scheduled a sailing of its ferry service from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia for Wednesday, resuming partial service after cancelling crossings on Monday because of the storm.
The ferry service says it rebooked passengers for departure from Port aux Basques, N.L., weather permitting.
Marine Atlantic says wind conditions will determine when the vessel docks in North Sydney, N.S.
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