Minnedosa declares state of emergency

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This article was published 17/05/2022 (1400 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Town of Minnedosa declared a state of emergency Tuesday as the swollen Little Saskatchewan River threatened more than two dozen homes.

The river is nearing its crest after rising three inches Sunday. Several houses have minor flooding in the town in western Manitoba.

Jim Doppler, chief administrative officer for the town, says provincial crews will be removing logs from the local dam Wednesday, which will improve water flow better through the town and protect the structural integrity of the dam.

It’s estimated an additional 30,000 sandbags will need to be used to fortify properties that where the water has been kept at bay

Residents in low lying areas are recommended to prepare for possible evacuation, as 20 to 50 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in southern Manitoba this week.

Krista Powell, co-owner of Gold Leaf Boutique on Main Street, spent Monday night sandbagging outside her store with members of the community. She fears it might be too late to stop the water from rising onto the street. Powell said the storm drains could not keep up with the higher water flow.

On Tuesday morning, Powell started packing up merchandise and began moving items to higher ground.

She said there’s a lot of uncertainty as to when the water could recede and was concerned for her neighbouring businesses nearby.

— Brandon Sun