Souris rises .38 metres overnight

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This article was published 03/07/2011 (5204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Souris River rose about 0.38 metres at the town of Souris overnight, about as much as the total increase in the two previous days, but still within the expectations of emergency crews, Mayor Darryl Jackson said.

About 200 members of the Canadian military arrived on Saturday to help sandbagging efforts in Souris, which has about 1,800 residents.

The river is still expected to crest in Souris “sometime Tuesday,” Jackson said, although it could happen as early as Monday night. Sandbagging crews are aiming to have their work done by early Monday afternoon.

By the time the last sandbag is laid, 800,000 will have been put in place this season, Jackson said.

He added that military personnel have been a great help, working mainly to build a sandbag wall near Plum Creek, where the slope is steeper and more dangerous than along the Souris River.

There were 250 volunteers working alongside the soldiers yesterday.

Jackson is still putting out a call for volunteers to make sure that the same number shows up today.

“We could sure use the help,” he said.

Meanwhile, upstream in Melita, which has about 1,000 residents, people were watching the dikes, which continued to hold against the rising water. Melita Mayor Bob Walker estimated the Souris River rose five to eight centimetres at Melita last night.

Walker watches the United States’ National Weather Service’s predictions, which he says have been far more accurate than those of Manitoba Water Stewardship. He said that based on the U.S. predictions, they are currently expecting a rise of another 10 to 13 cm in Melita.

Preparation for the crest there finished three days ago.

“We’re just manning the dikes and observing,” Walker said. “We feel quite confident.”

Residents were also feeling well-prepared for the crest downstream in Wawanesa, which has a population of about 500.

Sandbagging was completed, and a second, earthen dike was “95 per cent complete,” according to Mayor Bruce Cullett. The town is just waiting for two culverts that should arrive Monday morning.

“We’re ready for whatever’s coming,” Cullett said confidently, but then added, “We hope.”

Today, two helicopters are hovering above the town, dropping extra-large sandbags filled with stones into the river in front of the village’s main dam. It’s hoped the rock-filled sandbags will prevent a whirlpool effect from occurring and eventually rupturing the dam.