Family rescued at Six Nations, state of emergency remains in place

Six Nations remains in a state of emergency due to widespread flooding Friday morning, as a family was rescued after being stranded in their home.

Emergency crews say the family of three was trapped in their home on Fourth Line, but was saved in a coordinated operation by Six Nations Fire and Emergency Services and the Brantford Fire Department.

In a news release, the Six Nations Emergency Control Group said it met to discuss flood conditions on Thursday night, and said the state of emergency remains in place. The group is set to reconvene today to reassess.

Floodwaters have surged into Six Nations and other areas like Brantford and Cayuga. Reports of flooding after the warm temperatures earlier this week stretched across southern Ontario, including London, Waterloo, Cambridge, Dunnville, St. Marys, Chatham-Kent and Orangeville.

Six Nations says that Fourth Line West from Seneca Road to Bateman Line and Mohawk Road between Third Line and Fourth Line remain closed for community safety.

"Chiefswood Bridge remains open," the control group said in a news release. "The Six Nations Emergency Control Group will continue to monitor water levels around the bridge."

Emergency services have helped with the voluntary evacuation of several people within the 744 Fourth Line West to Bateman Line area, the group says.

"Residents who have chosen to remain in their home are urged to stay sheltered," the news release reads.

"Remember to exercise extreme caution. Keep children and pets away from all watercourses and off of frozen water bodies. Do not cross water-covered roads in an attempt to evacuate friends or family members from flooded areas."

LyndaPowless,owner ofTurtleIsland News at the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations, toldCBCNews this week that she has never seen flooding like this before in the area.

"Not to this extent," Powlesssaid. "This one took everybody by surprise. Normally, we see this kind of flooding in the spring. With the problem in Cambridge, the breakage there, it kind of put everybody on alert.