Flood damages exceed $1M: Selinger

Damage from heavy rain over the weekend across southern Manitoba will tally well over $1 million, said Premier Greg Selinger.

That figure does not, however, includethe devastation to homes and businesses caused by sewage backup, which is covered by private insurance, he noted.

Selinger has promised disaster financial assistance to help homeowners deal with flooded land, and to help municipalities repair washed-out roads and other infrastructure.

The province has doubled the cap for overland floodingcompensation to$200,000 through the Disaster Financial Assistance Program.

On Monday, Selinger toured the Red River Valley, which was hit by 100 millimetres of rain over the weekend.

The worst-hit community was Emerson, near the U.S. border, whichdeclared a state of emergency on Sunday due to flooded basements and roads.

The rainfall has also raised the level of the Red Riverand prompted officials to activate thefloodway,a 48-kilometre channelthat diverts water around the eastern side of Winnipeg.