Southern Manitoba municipality declares state of emergency due to 'unprecedented' rainfall

The municipality of North Norfolk has declared a state of emergency after it was pounded by rain overnight Monday into Tuesday, causing flooding in the community of Austin.

The municipality said in a Tuesday morning news release the local state of emergency was being declared after what it calledan "unprecedented" amount of rain fell Tuesday morning.

Austin washit especially hard, said Theresa Bergen, chief administrative officer for theNorth Norfolk municipality, which is between Brandon and Winnipeg.

Roads have been washed out and some culverts that run underneath rail lines have washed away, she said. Many homes in the community have suffered some kind of water damage.

Even though the water has already started receding in Austin, which is 130 kilometres west of Winnipeg, Bergen expects the state of emergency to stay in place for now.

"We will need to do a lot of repairs to infrastructure and that kind of thing. So for a few weeks, likely, for sure," she said.

The municipality warned residents east of Austin, including the community of MacGregor, about the possibility of rushing water in creeks, ditchesoverland.

MacGregor resident BradIsbistersaid he can usually sleep through anything, but Monday night'sheavy rainfall woke him up.

He said residents in the area reported three to four inches of rain overnight around 75 to 100 millimetres.

That would be about a third ofa normal season's entire rainfall,CBC meteorologist John Sauder said.

Isbister said he hasn't seen precipitation like that since 1997.

WATCH | Brad Isbister's video shows flooding in MacGregor, Man.:

Flooding washes out roads, culverts near MacGreogor, Man.

2 years ago

Duration 0:19

The RM of North Norfolk has declared a local state of emergency. Video submitted by Brad Ibister in MacGregor, Man.

The street helives on is now washed out. Hehasn't had water in hishouse, but says his yard is completely flooded.

"Now I've got lakefront property, so to speak," he told host Marjorie Dowhosin a Tuesday interview with CBC'sRadio Noon.

He's thinking about the farmers, though, who can't seem to catch a break.

"I can't even fathom what they have to deal with for stress. I mean, you put a crop in late and hope for some sort of return on that. And they get pounded with rain and washed out."

About 115 kilometres southwest of MacGregor, the Souris Glenwood Golf Course is prepared to cancel upcoming Father's Day tee times, after the creek that runs through the course overflowed and washed away two bridgesneeded to access the equipment shop on the other side.

On Tuesday afternoon, course officials still weren't surewhat damage if any is on the other side of the creek.

Still, Bob Warden, a managerat the course, is still in good spirits.

"We have quite a fewvolunteers based here that will really help with cleanup. That would be the main thing, and then seeing if we can find the bridges down river," he said.

The clubhouse is elevated from the creek and has stayed dry. While tee times are cancelled for the week, people can still come by for food and beverages.

More rain and pop-up thunderstorms are possible for the region Tuesday, with a few more showers overnight Wednesday,but then residents can expect a few days of drier weather, Sauder said.

North Norfolk CAO Bergen offered some adviceto residents.

"We just have to be patient."