Community cut off after flooding washes out roads in western Manitoba

Flooding that has washed out many roads and bridges in a section of western Manitoba has cut off one community from the outside world.

“We can’t get out of here at all,” Robert Hanson said Monday from Mafeking, a community of 130 residents.

Bridges north and south of Mafeking were severely damaged by heavy rain late last week that combined with melting snow in and around Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

“Such high water came out of there, it just washed out everything in its path,” said Hanson, who is reeve of the Rural Municipality of Mountain, which includes Mafeking and some other hard-hit communities.

0:51 Province announces disaster financial assistance for Manitobans affected by flooding

Another highway to the west has sections that are under water.

“We’ve got washouts all over the place.”

Mafeking’s ambulance station has been closed because the ambulance was outside the community when the bridge washed out and cannot get back. Anyone needing medical care will have to be taken out by helicopter.

Heavy rain late last week combined with melting snow has caused rivers to surge.

4:19 Flooding delaying seeding for some Manitoba farmers

Hanson says he and others in Mafeking may be able to leave in three days, when a bridge to the north is expected to reopen.

The RM of Mountain declared a local state of emergency on Sunday.

In other communities, roads, bridges and culverts have been washed out. There were at least three provincial bridges severely damaged and many municipal roads inundated.

“It’s been very devastating in that region,” said Doyle Piwniuk, minister for emergency measures.