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While floodwater runs into eastern Saskatchewan communities, many feel like they are sprinting to dry it all up.
Several Saskathewan communities — including Canora, Kamsack, Norquay, Raymore, Sheho and Togo — remain under a state of emergency due to flooding.
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Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency spokesperson Jeff DeDekker said 13 communities are under local emergency declarations and nine people had been evacuated from the Cote First Nation due to the flooding, and were being supported by the community and the Red Cross.
The emergency declarations also include the town of Raymore; the rural municipalities of Meadow Lake, Sliding Hills, Wolverine, Insinger, St. Philips, Livingston, and Cote; and the Keeseekoose First Nation.
Jen Schad said her home flooded several times in a matter of days in Canora. (Jen Schad/ Submitted)
Jen Schad said her family hauled water out of their basement with five gallon pails Sunday night in Canora.
The town, 238 kilometres northeast of Regina, saw floodwaters four feet deep in some areas of the community.
“It was just a complete disaster,” Schad said. “Like, people were canoeing in the streets and kayaking.
“It came down so quick that nobody really had a chance to prevent much.”
Brandi Zavislak, the community development officer with the Town of Canora, said the sewer lifts didn’t break, they were overwhelmed with the heavy rainfall.
She said at least 75 people had called about property damage due to the flooding.
“I have a lot of empathy for a lot of these people experiencing this,” Zavislak said.
“Sewage backup is not fun as it is, but I mean there are people that have sent me pictures, multiple feet of sewer damage.
Jen Schad said there were several feet of water that ran through Canora. (Brandi Zavislak/Submitted)
“It’s terrible. It’s awful.”
Zavislak said it had been a challenging few days for people in the community.
Some people had not been able to use the bathroom for a few days due to sewer back-ups, so the town has brought in portable bathrooms.
“They’re very tired, they’re exhausted, because they haven’t been sleeping,” she said.
“They’re feeling very overwhelmed, and they’re frustrated.”
The town has waived landfill fees for anyone who was affected by flooding.
Zavislak said the community has applied for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) Provincial Disaster Assistance Program.
Floodwater washed through Togo. Zene Woodworth said several roads to get to the village were damaged during the fast moving floods. (Shannon Deveau/ Submitted)
People couldn’t even see the streets in the village of Togo when the downpour occurred.
Zoria Woodworth runs the Empress Hotel, and said she found five feet of water in the basement.
“It was just a big lake all over the place,” she said. “Things were floating, railroad ties, everything all over the place, all over town.”
Her son, Zene, came to help set up sump pumps at his mom’s business.
“Our ground is right saturated,” he said. “We just need some dry weather here. It’s just creeping, creeping in as fast we can pump it out.”
Several feet of water flooded Togo. (Shannon Deveau/ Submitted)
The community only has a population of 80 people, but Zene said just about everyone is dealing with water damage in some capacity.
He said everyone is wiped from multiple days of clean up.
“Stressed and exhausted,” Zene said. “Just a big headache, a person doesn’t eat right, nobody needs this.”
According to the Water Security Agency, rainfall amounts over the past week have ranged from 100-275mm, or as much as 11 inches, in localized areas.
“These localized flood events are very difficult to predict and manage, and they’re driven by intense storm systems which drop a lot of water in a short period,” Leah Clark from the Water Security Agency (WSA) said.
Clark added the WSA has been working with municipal utility operators who are dealing with the impacts to drinking water and wastewater systems.
The heavy rain continues to impact highways as well, with 17 highway closures and another 18 incidents of water on driving lanes.
The Ministry of Highways says it’s trying to make repairs as quickly as possible. Travellers can find the latest road closures and conditions on the Highway Hotline website.
— with files from 980 CJME’s Geoff Smith
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