June 16, 2011
Urban Search and Rescue Team to Help Provide Safe Access for Property Owners in Lake Manitoba Flood Zone: Premier
Manitoba’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR) is being deployed in the rural municipalities of St. Laurent and Woodlands to support property owners following damage caused by high water, wind and waves along the southeast shore of Lake Manitoba, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
“Many families have been forced from their homes and cottages during this year’s unprecedented flooding. In some areas it has been too dangerous for them to go back and retrieve valuable personal possessions, which has only added to the stress they are already feeling,” said Selinger. “The Urban Search and Rescue team is trained to assist in the aftermath of this type of natural disaster and will work to ensure people have safe access to the things they need.”
The announcement was made this morning as the USAR team left Winnipeg to set up operations and its mobile command post in the St. Laurent area. Later todaythe USAR team, which includes structural engineers, will be assessing and temporarily stabilizing severely damaged structures to allow home owners to safely salvage their personal belongings.
Strong winds and waves caused widespread destruction to properties in the Twin Lakes, Laurentia, and Johnson beaches areas along the southeast basin of Lake Manitoba. The USAR team will work closely with the municipalities of St. Laurent and Woodlands to determine priorities and ensure residents who want to enter their properties are safely escorted in and out of the area. USAR will also be available to other municipalities as needed, said Selinger.
The Office of the Fire Commissioner co-ordinates the 100-plus-member USAR team in Manitoba. The team is made up of emergency response professionals from municipal, provincial and federal services. This team is capable of responding to all types of natural disasters. The Manitoba USAR team can be mobilized within hours and has the capacity to be self-sustaining for up to 10 days in any weather anywhere in the country.
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