Peguis First Nation homes evacuated because of flooding

At least 40 people wereforced from their homes in Peguis First Nation Friday night and more joined their ranks Saturday as the community fought flood waters.

Chief Glenn Hudson said 13 homes had been affected so far but he said more homes, between 12 and 20, were expected to beevacuated Saturday.

He said the Fisher River wasrunning high and he blamedthe flooding on ice jams.

Hudson said the evacuees have been sent to hotels in Winnipeg but he's worried because some of them have health issues such as diabetes and breathing problems and one woman is pregnant.

"Some of them were able to walk out with hip waders," he said. "And some just left their vehicles parked away from their home and ending up walking out on their own basically."

The CBC's Katie Nicholson reported that the Peguis Flood EMOCentre was in full swing Saturday responding to multiple emergencies on reserve.

Co-ordinator William Sutherland told her as many as 400 homes are at risk of flooding in the community, and that60 flood evacuees hadregistered with the centre as of mid-daySaturday, numbers that are far higher than what the province reported.

"We do have multiple road accesses comprised," he said. "We have the rapid response flood tube teams going out and protecting as many homes as possible."

Chief Hudson said residents are, sadly, all too familiar with flooding.He said 200 of the community's residents are still off reserve from previous floods in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

"It has been stressful all along throughout the years," he said. "Obviously we have become experts in flood and flood fighting efforts."

MANFFreappears to help out

The province said it delivered 100 water tubes toPeguis, butthat the flooding situation wasbeing managed by the federal government and the community.

A provincial spokesperson also said evacuations are being co-ordinated by the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters.

MANFFran into trouble for financial issues related to 2011 flood evacuees.

• Province still paying MANFF despite questionable expenses

In 2013, the federal government removed the agency from handling First Nations people displaced by the 2011 flood.

• MANFF surrenders flood evacuee services

The provincial spokesperson told CBC Saturdaythat the federal government still has a contract with MANFF.

And in Peguis, EMO co-ordinator William Sutherland confirmedMANFF personnel were on the ground assisting,

The provincealso confirmed Saturday approximately 50 homes in Peguis have been damaged by flood waters or lost access because of flooding.

The province said water levels appear to have crested in the community.

Below is video the CBC's Katie Nicholson shot of sandbagging efforts in the community. Below that, the CBC's Jacques Marcoux shot video of the CBC's vehicle kickingup water as it drives along a flooded road Saturday.