'The hardcore people are still here': Flood victims stay home to fend off looters in New Brunswick
Floodwaters now contaminated with sewage, warns mayor
Even as flood waters continue to rise in New Brunswick, some residents remain in their homes over a fear of looting.
Joyce Cochrane has lived in her Maugerville house for 48 years. She said that three men entered her neighbour's property yesterday, believing it was vacant.
"We have looters trying to go through and steal. You don't want to leave your home," she said.
The men were arrested after Cochrane's neighbour raised the alarm, but the incident has strengthened a resolve for residents to protect their property.
"The hardcore people are still here," Cochrane said.
Floodwaters along the St. John River have reached historically high levels, hitting 5.69 metres over the weekend and are expected to rise further over the next couple of days. An estimated 80 roads and bridges are closed, and in some areas transport is only possible by boat.
Cochrane's husband grew up in their house — situated on the St John River, 10 minutes from Fredericton — and their daughter and grandchildren live two doors away.
They've experienced floods before, in 1973 and 2008, she said, but in those incidents the water receded much faster.
"[In 2008] it was up and down within 48 hours," Cochrane said.
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"This one here — this is ten days that the water has been over and had us barricaded in, and we haven't been able to get out.
"There's no reprieve, there's no going down. The water hasn't dropped, if anything it's risen."
While more than 1,000 people are estimated to have left, many others have chosen to stay, and no official evacuation order has been issued.
Mayor of Saint John Don Darling said that the decision to remove people from their homes couldn't be taken lightly. He added that he trusts the experience and direction of EMO Director and Fire Chief Kevin Clifford.
"He takes very seriously a mandatory evacuation," he said.
"Our message has been very consistent that the water is coming, the water is going to continue to rise, it's going to cause a lot of challenges for us, and that people need to take that information and make the best decisions."
Those challenges now include sewage contamination in the floodwater, Darling said.
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"I was this morning chatting with someone who told me that they saw children playing in the water over the weekend," he said.
"This is very serious — not only is the water extremely cold, it's running very quickly, it's very high.
"So in other words we have no idea what's happening underneath the water ... but we certainly should not be in the water exposing our skin to the water."
Listen to the full audio near the top of this page, which includes a report from Halifax Network Producer Mary-Catherine McIntosh, at the site of the floods in New Brunswick.
This segment was produced by The Current's Danielle Carr, Ines Colabrese and Idella Sturino and Halifax Network Producer Mary-Catherine McIntosh