'A man's house is his castle': South coast communities remain stranded in wake of storm

A Morrisville couple says they're starting over in the wake of the flooding that struck their south coast community this week. 

"Whatever I owned is out there in the bay," resident Doug Kendell told CBC News. "Everything is gone."

It could be a long time before things return to normal in several communities along Newfoundland's south coast, as intense rainfall and high winds have made the only routes into communities like St. Alban's and Hermitage-Sandyville impassable.

• Multiple states of emergency declared as heavy rains batter central Newfoundland
• More than $1.5M repair bill for accidents, road washouts, states of emergency

Morrisville, near Bay d'Espoir, saw significant damage. Lawns were ripped up, structures were destroyed and some buildings were pushed into the water.

Doug and his wife Georgina lost their car, shed, lawn tractor and skidoo. Their home is submerged under two feet of water — and that's down from where it was.

"We had all the things in life that we needed to bring us through retirement. Everything we had was bought and paid for. And now it's all gone," Georgina Kendell said.

"But the car is material. The skidoo is material. But what hurts me is my home. A man's house is his castle. It's everything that he's worked for, everything we've both worked for," she said.

Kendell said she's worried the upstairs of her home will be ruined if something isn't done about the standing water. She fears humidity and condensation will ruin her floors, cupboards and furniture.

"If somebody doesn't help us soon, we're going to suffer total financial wipeout," she said. 

"My biggest problem is that insurance doesn't cover our property, even though we were fully insured and have been all our lives, and we've been claims-free all of our lives."

It's been a roller coaster … we have deep emotional scars.- Georgina Kendell, Morrisville resident

While she said people have been wonderful to her and her husband — they're currently staying with friends — it's been an emotional roller coaster. 

 "Most of the time [I'm] trying to comfort my husband and stay strong for him when I'm emotionally strapped myself," she said.

"It was horrific, to say the least, that night. But now, when the dust settles, while we're fortunate that we weren't hurt physically, we have deep emotional scars."   

The biggest problem in St. Alban's is the destruction of the 30-metre bridge into town, Mayor Jamie LeRoux told CBC's On The Go late Tuesday afternoon.

"I spent the afternoon, and especially the last hour, communicating with Transportation and Works and, earlier today, Fire and Emergency Services as well and we're looking at various alternatives to getting reconnected," he said.

Premier Dwight Ball and Minister of Transportation and Works Al Hawkins plan to visit the area Wednesday to get a first-hand look and assess the damage.

Hermitage-Sandyville damage

Two washouts on Route 364, heading into Hermitage-Sandyville and Seal Cove, have also isolated those communities from the outside world.

"It's a big job," said Hermitage-Sandyville Mayor Steve Crewe, estimating each washout is about 12 metres wide and 12 metres deep.

"The first one is probably not so bad. The other one is on a steep downgrade  — I'd say there's about 30 tonnes of dirt that's just piled up there, let loose. That's going to take a little while [and] a bit of engineering to figure that one out."

Crewe said a contractor is expected to arrive Wednesday to begin repairs, but it will probably be a few days before people can travel in and out.

No medical services

The Hermitage-Sandyville mayor hopes the contractor's first order of business will be to build a temporary side road for medical emergencies.

"We got no way out, so for ambulances and stuff like that it's a concern," Crewe said, adding one man was taken out via helicopter due to chest pains Tuesday.

The mayor of St. Alban's echoed those concerns, saying action is needed as soon as possible to ensure residents there can get necessary supplies and ensure safe passage to the town's health centre.

LeRoux said another 1,200 people south of St. Alban's, who rely on the town's medical clinic on a daily basis, are cut off as well.

"We co-ordinated with [Newfoundland and Labrador] Hydro and Central Health … and we've had boats going across the bay with medical supplies. We've had helicopters bringing pharmacists and nurses to work to alleviate the interim."

Fuel, supply shortages

Crewe estimated people in his community could last until Friday without any incoming food or fuel, and people have been asked to conserve both if they can.

In Conne River, fingers are crossed that a fuel truck will arrive Wednesday.

"We had to shut down the gas bar and keep gas and diesel for emergency crews only," said Mi'sel Joe, chief of the Miawpukek First Nation.

"That's the biggest thing at this stage, get that truck into here as quick as possible."

Joe said his community fared worse than initially thought, with about 20 homes damaged and the salmon counting fence on the river totally destroyed. 

An amateur weather observer in Conne River recorded more than 215 mm of rain fell overnight Monday in that community, although it isn't clear exact totals for the other south coast communities.