March 31, 2009
Flood Media Bulletin #7
Flood Response
· Selkirk has declared a local state of emergency to assist in flood preparations. It has also set up an information line for citizens at 204-785-4900.
· Selkirk is adding to the diking around the Kiwanis Complex to ensure it is protected to 2007 levels plus an extra 0.6 metres (two feet).
· The province has 22 steamers working today to open frozen culverts. There are seven in the RMs north of Winnipeg; seven south of Winnipeg; three in the La Salle, Arbourg and Warren areas; three in the Domain, Holland, Treherne, MacGregor areas; and two in the Virden and Killarney areas. An additional 15 units will be put into service by the weekend.
· There is now 330 m (1,080 ft.) of the 15 m (50-foot) water barrier (flood tubes) being used for dikes, mostly in the rural municipalities north of Winnipeg and another 200 of the 30 m (100 ft.) pieces will be delivered soon. These larger tubes are one metre (three ft.) high, have a two m (seven‑foot) base and are flexible, reuseable tubes that can be quickly stacked and filled with water without the use of sandbags.
· The Amphibex icebreakers continue to address ice issues on the Red River near Sugar Island and ice cutters are working in the McIvor Road area near the PTH 4 bridge.
· All vulnerable homes and farms in the Red River valley have been identified. Municipalities are contacting property owners to advise them on flood protection levels.
· Large-size sandbags are being delivered to the Melita area to assist with sandbagging efforts on low-lying areas of the Souris River along PTH 3.
· Mennonite Disaster Services is assisting with sandbagging north of Winnipeg and in Winnipeg.
· The Salvation Army is providing meals and refreshments to people working on the flood-fighting efforts north of Winnipeg and in Winnipeg.
· Public inquiries can be directed to provincial flood liaison offices in Winnipeg at 204-945-2354 or in Morris at 204-746-7325.
Evacuations
· To date and as a precaution, 704 residents of Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation are evacuated to Winnipeg. A small number of essential persons remain in the community. The ring dike has not yet been closed completely.
· There has been a partial evacuation of 18 homes on the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation to the nearby community of Virden. Local road access on the First Nation has been threatened by rising creek levels. At this time, no homes have been flooded.
Flood Forecast
· There is no change in the forecast for the Red River. Predicted crest stages from Emerson to Winnipeg were reduced by 0.3 m (one ft.) yesterday and crests from Winnipeg to Breezy Point remained the same. The forecast will be reviewed daily and an update issued only if expectations change.
· A snowstorm is slowly moving across the U.S. portion of the Red River watershed today with up to 30 cm (one ft.) of snow for the Fargo area. Some snow may fall as far north as Winnipeg, however, this storm will have very little effect on flood prospects for the Red in southern Manitoba since crests of the Red will have passed Emerson before any run-off from the new snow reaches the river. Little snow is expected in the Manitoba portion of the Red River from this system.
· Generally, sub-zero temperatures are expected for the rest of this week and will delay melting of snow and ice. Ice on the Red River and other streams in southern Manitoba is unlikely to start moving until the weekend or later.
· The top of the forecast range from Emerson to Winnipeg is still very close to 1979 crests at most locations. The lower end of the forecast range is similar to crests observed in 2006 and would occur if snowmelt is delayed for a further 10 days and if there is little additional precipitation.
· The top of the forecast range from Emerson through Winnipeg includes the effect of stationary ice and minor ice jamming but does not include the possibility of serious ice jams. Serious ice jams could occur but are rather uncommon in this portion of the river. It is more likely that the crests in this portion will occur with open water after the ice has moved out.
· Predicted crests from Selkirk to Breezy Point remain unchanged due to the high probability that ice jams will determine crest elevations in this portion of the Red River. Ice jams frequently occur in this portion of the river.
· Levels on the Red River rose about 0.27 m (0.9 ft.) at Emerson, 0.12 m (0.4 ft.) at Morris and 0.08 m (a quarter foot) at Selkirk during the 24-hour period ending this morning. The level at Lockport declined another 0.08 m (a quarter foot) as the ice jam near Lower Fort Garry has become smaller.
· The Red River level at James Avenue in downtown Winnipeg stood at 5.27 m (17.29 ft.) this morning, a rise of 0.05 m (0.17 ft.) since yesterday morning. The level at the floodway inlet rose slightly to 229.3 m (752.3 ft.) with about 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) flowing naturally into the floodway and a total of 30,200 cfs in the river just upstream of the channel. Floodway operation does not normally begin until ice is flowing freely at the inlet.
· The river level in downtown Winnipeg is expected to rise very gradually for the next five days and should still be just below 5.5 m (18 ft.) as of April 5 if ice conditions do not change. Due to extended cooler weather and operation of the Portage Diversion, a level of 6.1 m (20 ft.) may not occur until April 10 unless ice jams develop. Portage Diversion flows were increased today and the Shellmouth Reservoir outflow was decreased to reduce flows and levels of the Assiniboine River into Winnipeg.
· A threat of ice jams remains in Winnipeg and north to Lake Winnipeg. Serious jams could develop but it is impossible to say when or where they might occur. The risk of serious jams is greater than usual this spring due to the unusually cool weather while river flows are rising. If ice jams develop in Winnipeg, the Amphibex ice breakers will be used to try to break them up.
Road Conditions:
· Before travelling in flood-affected areas, please check www.manitoba.ca/mit/roadinfo/index.html or call 204-945-3704 or 1-877-627-6237. Information about conditions in North Dakota can be found at www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/nd.htm or by calling 1-866-696-3511.
· Motorists are cautioned to be aware of additional heavy trucks, special equipment and work crews on many highways and roads. It is very important that drivers slow down for crews unthawing culverts and ditches.
· Law enforcement agencies remind motorists to obey road barriers set up to control traffic. Water levels can change quickly and roads may have barriers on them even if there is only the potential for flooding. Do not drive on a closed road. Driving on such a road is a risk to individuals and is against the law.
Flood information, the latest road information for Manitoba and a link for North Dakota highway conditions are also available at www.gov.mb.ca.
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