Manitoba flood briefs: Flood claims second life in Manitoba

Flood toll rises to two

The spring flooding season has claimed its second life, as a Lac du Bonnet-area man died over the weekend after his car rolled into a flooded ditch near the Lee River in eastern Manitoba.

A 35-year-old man was found in the Pontiac Grand Am after police were called Sunday to Belluk Road, east of Lac du Bonnet. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

RCMP are now urging motorists to exercise additional caution around flooded roads and ditches.

Last week, 61-year-old Raymond Stott died on Alarie Road, northwest of Otterburne, after he drove his truck onto a gravel section washed out by the Marsh River.

States of emergency

Rising water on the Souris River on Tuesday led the town of Souris to declare a state of emergency, albeit as a precautionary measure in the event the river continued to rise.

Stubborn ice on the Souris River drove up water to the point where it neared the top of a 36-year-old flood-protection berm, said Charlotte Parham, chief administrative officer for the southwestern Manitoba town.

Approximately 75 volunteers were erecting sandbag dikes around low-lying properties, she said.

Brandon also declared a state of emergency Tuesday evening to deal with rising water in a south end pond.

Mayor Shari Decter Hirst said a water retention pond south of Crocus Plains High School was about to breach its banks, threatening 700 homes in south Brandon, the Brandon Sun reports.

The state of emergency gives the civic government the right to go onto private property without permission, and do whatever work is necessary to mitigate the effects of flooding.

It was required to allow city workers to drain the rising pond into nearby bushland.

First Nation evacuations

Approximately 15 people left Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, west of Brandon, due to flooding on the Oak River, the province announced in a Tuesday flood bulletin.

Another 10 have left Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation, at the confluence of the Roseau and Red rivers. Evacuations are also possible at Peguis First Nation due to rising water on the Fisher River, which has isolated some homes, the province said.

Ring dike closures

Partial ring dikes were in place on Tuesday in six Red River Valley communities: Brunkild, Emerson, Gretna, St. Jean Baptiste, St. Adolphe and Ste. Agathe.

But the province held off on plans to close Highway 75 at Morris. The status of the highway will be reassessed every few hours, the province said.

To access a complete list of road closures in Manitoba, visit http://www.gov.mb.ca/mit/roadinfo .

Meanwhile, Interstate 29 remains closed north of Fargo due to overland flooding in Cass County, the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead reported.

The Interstate has been closed near Harwood since Sunday.

Flooding in the area is receding following the crest of the Red River.

The Red River is expected to crest in Grand Forks on Thursday or Friday, Emerson between April 22 and 26 and Winnipeg between April 27 and May 4, according to the U.S. National Weather Service and Manitoba Water Stewardship projections.

Town of Souris has boiling water advisory

A boil-water advisory is on in one rural Manitoba town after rising flood waters raised fears about a contaminated water supply.

Souris declared a state of emergency and issued a boil-water advisory on Tuesday after the Souris River surged three feet in a single day and sent flood water seeping into the town's water pumphouse.

It is not known if any of the untreated groundwater spilled into the treated water reservoir, but town officials aren't taking chances. "We have to play it safe," said Souris chief administrative officer Charlotte Parham.

Souris's 1,800 residents are advised to boil all tap water used for drinking, cooking and tooth-brushing until further notice.

Parham said that in her 25 years in Souris, which is located about 250 kilometres west of Winnipeg, this is the first time the town has issued a boil-water advisory.

Near the town, Highway 250 is also closed as the Souris River backs up against it, and two houses have been sandbagged in case the river continues to rise.

"The water just got way too high," Parham said. "It's gone down now, and we're just hoping it stays that way."