New Brunswick flood more inconvenience than catastrophe

New Brunswick's experience during flooding over the weekend has been more inconvenience than catastrophe.

Diana Donovan, a Maugerville resident, said this year's flood conditions are pretty much the same as in past years.

"It's just water. It's water and we choose to live beside the river and we know every year that the water is going to come up," she said.

'I just hope my boots are high enough'

In the south of the province, the story is much the same. By and large, the flood waters haven't been anything to worry about.

"If it stays like this, we'll be fine," said Russel Cameron of Sussex.

"The basement is dry right now."

Some residents who left Darlings Island earlier in the day had difficulty getting back home as the only road to the community was closed because of the flood.

Carolyn Laskey was stranded on the other side when she went to church, but she planned to walk back.

"I just hope my boots are high enough that I don't get wet," she said.

Flooded basements

The rainstorm that hit New Brunswick this weekend dropped over 100 millimetres of rain in some areas, leaving flooded roads and wet basements, the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization said.

As the water rises throughout the day, more roads in central, south and southwest regions are being closed, regional co-ordinator Jason Cooling said.

Residents are also dealing with flooded basements from ground saturation, he said.

Along Route 105, homes are being affected by water directly from spillover from the St. John River, he said. Many people in the Shellfield and Maugerville area have water in their basements. 

"For the most part, those people are quite resilient and prepared. For those that aren't, we are providing services here from the regional centre's operations here in Oromocto." 

Watch the river

Cooling reminded people to continue to watch the river carefully, pay attention to the warnings and be prepared. 

As of 4 p.m., EMO has advised residents that travel on Route 105 from Bluebird Corner to Jemseg will be restricted to vehicles that are 1/2 ton trucks or larger.

"Until conditions improve small vehicles, regardless of whether a pass has been issued or not, will not be permitted through roadblocks," wrote Richard Cummings on Maugerville's Flood Watch 2017 Facebook page. 

"Those travelling through flooded areas should use extreme caution, drive slowly through flood waters and restrict travel to essential travel during daytime hours."

5-15 mm of rain expected Monday

The heaviest of the rain has ended for New Brunswick, CBC meteorologist Kalin Mitchell said Sunday morning.

Rainfall warnings have been lifted but the province will see another two to 10 millimetres of rain throughout the day. Another five to 15 millimetres is expected Monday.

According to Mitchell, total rainfall amounts for parts of the province as of Sunday morning are: 

• Oak Point 147 mm
• Mechanic Settlement 117 mm
• Bantalor 83.4 mm
• Brockway 76.7 mm
• Fredericton 75.0 mm
• Point Lepreau 74.6 mm
• Saint John 73.0 mm
• St. Stephen 72.0 mm

Mitchell said there are showers in the forecast for most of the week along with clouds and sunny breaks.

"But if we're looking for the silver lining in this kind of cloudy forecast, it's that we're through the heaviest of the rain now and the rest of the precipitation showing up this week is going to be much much lighter."  

The St. John River rose 10 centimetres overnight and a ferry used to transport farm equipment and livestock across the river was damaged due to the rising waters.

The ferry, which was not in service at the time, was overturned late last week, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said. Officials assessed the damage and say they will continue to check on it.

A list of road closures:

Road closures around the province include:

• MacDougall Lake Road, 20 kilometres north of St. George off Route 785
• Route 102, 30 kilomtres from exit of Route 2 to flooded area.
• A small section from intersection of Never's Road on Wassis Farm Road
• Three kilometres from intersection of Dewitt and Sunpoke to Morrow Road at intersection of Merritt Smith Road
• Routes 105 and 690 in the Jemseq and Douglas Harbour.
• Route 105 from Blue Bird turn to Jemseq.
•  A small section from the intersection of Waterville and Smith roads.
• Three kilometres of the Rusagonis Road, from the intersection of the Route 655 to flooded area.
• The Duplissea Road in Central Blissville, 100 metres south of intersection of route 785.
• Route 101 Route in Blissville, from civic address 5448 and 5521 near Alexander's Mill.
• In the Miramichi region, the Back Road From Mullin Stream road to the Junction Bridge in Sunny Corner. 

Duguay said the accumulation of the rain in Doaktown forced the ambulance service to relocate to higher ground. 

At one point, there was two to three feet of water on Route 8 through the main part of the village, Doaktown Mayor Bev Gaston said.

"The storm sewers just couldn't take it cause the brooks and the river were too high. The firemen were able to keep control of it until the storm sewers plugged up." 

While the main route was never closed, RCMP and firefighters were on the scene to guide vehicles through safely, she said. 

As the water recedes, crews are directing the water into the brooks and the storm sewers are able to take the water again. 

"We are under control and we're just waiting to see what rain we get tonight but we think we can keep on top of it . . . it's 100 per cent better than it was in the middle of the night," Gaston said..

Despite the worst being over in terms of the rainstorm, Duguay said water levels will remain high for the rest of the week. 

"They are above flood stage." 

The Welsford Volunteer Fire Department is advising all roads are passable in the area but warns the Nerepis and Parks Brook are full and could flood with more rain.