March 26, 2009
Flood Media Bulletin #2
The ice jam on the Red River located near Lockport broke up at 8 a.m. today and has started to move. The ice jam was affecting the rural municipalities of St. Andrews, West St. Paul, St. Clements and East St. Paul and caused some flooding in the area. The ice could jam again if it moves.
Provincial crews are monitoring the progress of the ice and will update water levels and continue to provide the four municipalities assistance in dike construction.
The provincial government is providing the municipalities with:
· heavy equipment to break the ice,
· a second sandbag machine and 100,000 sandbags,
· approximately 9,000 feet of water barrier (tube diking), and
· authorization to the RM of St. Clements to use leftover dirt from the nearby floodway project for constructing dikes.
Officials from the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, Manitoba Water Stewardship, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and Manitoba Conservation are working with all four municipalities. Those municipalities have activated and implemented their emergency response plans.
Approximately 50 homes in the area have been affected by overland flooding and water rising from the ice jam.
Volunteer sandbaggers can phone 204-482-3300 to volunteer their time and assist with flood-fighting efforts.
Flood information can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/floodinfo/index.html?/index.html.
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