State of emergency: Flooded Manitoba town prepares for river crest

Minnedosa, Manitoba, is bracing for potential flooding as the town declared a state of local emergency on Sunday. Days of heavy rain have caused rising water levels in the local river, prompting officials to take action. Mayor Ken Cameron stated the emergency declaration grants the town the authority to deploy necessary resources to protect residents and homes.

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We just decided that a state of emergency gives us the authority to do what we need to do and bring in (the) machinery to do what you have to do to save people and homes.

The town anticipates a surge of 60 cm in the Little Saskatchewan River, with the water level expected to peak on Monday and remain high for two days. Over the weekend, residents worked on flood-proofing vulnerable areas. Cameron noted that "half a dozen spots along the river" require sandbagging or other water barriers, though an exact number of deployed sandbags was not available.

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I think we’re in pretty good shape for what we’re expecting, but that changes daily.

Despite the challenges, Mayor Cameron expressed confidence in the town's preparedness. "I think we’re in pretty good shape for what we’re expecting, but that changes daily," he said, adding that extensive preparation has eased anxiety among residents. Sandbagging efforts are currently paused as the town addresses downed trees. Officials are in regular communication with the Manitoba government, which has assured support.

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This year, we’re in pretty good shape and I know there’s always going to be some anxiety because nobody wants that kind of a problem, but I think right now people are a lot more at ease just because we did a fair bit of prep.

Meanwhile, the nearby City of Brandon also declared a state of local emergency in anticipation of rising waters. Mayor Jeff Fawcett believes preparation efforts are on track. Much of western Manitoba has experienced flooding recently, attributed to saturated soil from a wet June that prevents water absorption, causing runoff into rivers, according to meteorologist Brian Proctor.

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fairly significant rainfall