Residents, officials, survey storm damage

Provincial officials are touring flood damaged areas north of Winnipeg, following a major storm this week.

"My husband and I have lived here for 20 years, and this has never happened," says Sandy Glassman, long time resident of Siglavik, north of Winnipeg Beach.

For the first time ever, lake water has flooded her home.

In the past 24 hours, water spilled over roads and ditches and flooded several properties in Winnipegosis and Gimli after strong winds whipped up huge waves on nearby lakes. States of emergency have been declared in and around both communities.

Area residents are also surveying the aftermath. Many who have lived in the area for 20 years have never seen lake waters come so far up shore. At least 100 homes have been affected by flooding. A road through Pelican Beach was completely washed out.

On Wednesday night, native leaders also reported flooding on the Sagkeeng First Nation with more than a dozen homes and a bridge in danger from high waters.

Provincial Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick and Gimli MLA Peter Bjornson toured the area Thursday morning.

Melnick says the emergency measures organization is assessing the damage.

Provincial officials released updated information on water levels throughout the province late Thursday:

• The community of Winnipegosis and the surrounding RM of Mossy River continue their states of local emergency, due to overland flooding caused by heavy rains and water blowing in off Lake Winnipegosis.

• Winnipegosis remains under an evacuation watch as four homes have taken on water. Eight residents have been evacuated and are being accommodated in the area.

• Six homes are flooded in the RM of Mossy River and all 13 people evacuated are staying with family and friends. A sandbagging crew is working in affected areas to further protect property.

• The RM of Alexander declared a state of local emergency Wednesday and six residents were evacuated from the Victoria Beach area.

• The RM of St. Clements declared a state of local emergency Wednesday. Three homes were evacuated. A dike is being built on a municipal road at Patricia Beach to prevent water from moving through the area.

• The RM of Gimli declared a state of local emergency Wednesday as water covered several streets but the situation improved Thursday. A property at Siglavik was flooded Wednesday night with approximately 20 homes affected. Access to the Willow Point subdivision was cut off Wednesday due to water over the road. Residents were voluntarily evacuated and are being accommodated in the area.

• In the town of Winnipeg Beach, local officials successfully repaired a breach of the dike.

• At Peguis First Nation, 37 homes are reporting flooding. One family has been evacuated.

• On the Fisher River Cree Nation, 16 homes were flooded. The local fire department is operating pumps to help with the situation. There are no reported evacuations. Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation delivered two strategic emergency response trailers and tiger dams to this area, to assist with flood control efforts.

• On the Sagkeeng First Nation, 10 homes have been evacuated due to overland flooding and all evacuated residents are being accommodated in the community.

• On the Lake Manitoba First Nation, three homes are flooded.

• The RM of St. Andrews declared a state of local emergency Wednesday as 20 residents of Jenny Road and Henry Road were evacuated.

These residents are now returning to their homes. Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation supplied the area with a two SERT trailers and tiger dams to assist with flood control along Netley Creek.

• The Village of Dunnottar declared a state of local emergency Thursday, due to the threat to lakefront properties from waves and high lake levels.

• Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation has also supplied each of the RMs of Armstrong, Woodlands and Bifrost with a SERT trailer and tiger dams to protect individual properties from overland flooding.