Saint John region pitches in to curb flood risk with water on the rise

Floodwaters in the Saint John area may not get as high as initially feared, but they've already cut off 240 families from dry land and are still rising, the Emergency Measures Organization said Thursday. 

The St. John River has reached 5.48 metres and is now projected to rise to 5.6 metres by Friday before starting to recede.

The forecast Wednesday had called for water levels to reach 5.8 metres, exceeding last year's historic peak of 5.76 metres.

Still, a voluntary evacuation notice issued Monday remains in place for flood-impacted areas and residents are being urged to get out before they become cut off by flooded roads.

Kevin Clifford, the Saint John EMO director and fire chief, said flooding has isolated 240 households from the mainland.

He said crews built up two roads to minimize the number of affected homes, and volunteers are performing wellness checks in affected areas.

As of Thursday afternoon, only 43 evacuees have registered with the Canadian Red Cross.

A regular shuttle service in and out of isolated and flooded areas is not available, said EMO officials.

Boats and a light armoured vehicle are available only for public safety purposes, including emergency response, wellness checks and evacuation assistance, they said.

Anyone who needs help leaving their home should call 648-3333.

Evacuees should register with the Canadian Red Cross by calling 1-800-863-6582 or visiting the reception centre at the Carleton Community Centre at 82 Market Place West between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Helping hands

As of Thursday afternoon, Clifford said 20,000 sandbags had been distributed and more than another 10,000 had been filled. 

In Quispamsis, a call went out for volunteers to fill sandbags and about 80 students from Saint John's École Samuel-de-Champlain answered.

"They said anybody interested in going to help fill sandbags to help out the community just leave your name with your teacher and we'll get back to you. so today we did that," said Annika Wright.

Many of the sandbags are destined for Gondola Point Road in Quispamsis, where Wayne MacKinney hopes they will prevent further erosion of his property. He's been waiting for a year for a permit from the Department of Environment and Local Government to restore the seawall that was destroyed in last year's flood.

"I'm at my rope's end," MacKinney said. "I haven't been belligerent with anybody, I don't intend to, people are a lot worse off than I am, but I've got to deal with this situation. I just don't want to keep doing this. I'm getting too long in the tooth, don't have the energy anymore."

Premier on the ground

Premier Blaine Higgs was among the volunteers filling sandbags in Quispamsis on Thursday. 

Higgs said his government will look into building a spillway to take pressure off the lower river basin in the future by allowing more water to pass through Reversing Falls, where the river meets the Bay of Fundy in Saint John.

"We'll let some engineers look at that, but if you look at coming right across the peninsula where Reversing Falls, where the bridge is, I would say there's room there to put a tunnel."

Volunteer assistance

The EMO is co-ordinating volunteer assistance for residents impacted by the flood.

Anyone who needs help can call 658-2844 or complete an online form at www.saintjohn.ca/floodhelp indicating the type of help they require and when.

Volunteers are asked to indicate their availability.

"Like last year, we anticipate that there will be a need for a large number of volunteers to support the recovery effort once floodwaters begin to recede," EMO said in a statement.

The Canadian Coast Guard is assisting with flood response in the region with two boats, a helicopter and staff from as far away as P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador, said Kyle Jarvis, a senior environmental response officer.

The boats — a fast rescue craft with four crew members and a pollution response vessel with three crew — are patrolling in the Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield and Belleisle area, he said.

They are "showing a visible presence" and will conduct wellness checks and assist with evacuations, as needed, until further notice, said Jarvis, who is working out of the EMO command post in Island View.

The helicopter has also been assessing the extent of the flooding with flights from Saint John to Fredericton and back over Grand Bay-Westfield and another focusing on the lower St. John River and Oromocto area, he said.

"Depending on the way things change, that will influence what we do going forward," said Jarvis.

The coast guard has a couple other vessels and additional crew available, if required.

"Safety is definitely our top concern," Jarvis said. "We're here to assist as best as we can and as required on behalf of the province of New Brunswick."

City crews were busy building up a section of Ragged Point Road, near civic address 172, on Thursday to maintain access for about 110 residents.

The road is closed to through traffic until the work is complete.

Hampton High School, Hampton Middle School, Hampton Elementary School and Dr Leatherbarrow Primary School will all be closed on Friday to help reduce the impact on the town's sewer system during the flooding, the Anglophone South School District announced.

The decision was made in consultation with the town, officials said.