N.B. residents brave high waters as Fiona whips eastern shore - Action News
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New Brunswick

N.B. residents brave high waters as Fiona whips eastern shore

There's been flooding in eastern New Brunswick as post-tropical storm Fiona hit Atlantic Canada, bringing high winds and storm surge.

'A wild night,' as storm surge causes damage in Pointe-du-Chne and other coastal areas

Erika Biggs scooping water out of the vehicle she was able to salvage after the cottage she was staying at flooded. (Aniekan Etuhube/CBC)

What was supposed to be a weekend getaway for Erika Biggsand her family ended with a last minute evacuation of their cottage to escape the storm surge in Pointe-du-Chne Saturday.

They made it out with help from the Shediac Fire Department, but the water was so high that one of the family cars had to be left behind.

"We were on vacation at a cottage and we got flooded," said Biggs, adding the cottage is on Gary Avenue.

"My car is still there ruined. We got this one out becauseit washigher, but there's water in [it]," she said, while scooping water out of the back seat.

"The fire departmentof Shediacwas amazing. They came and got us and helped. Absolute, absolute wonders. Thank you so much," said Biggs.

Firefighters during a rescue operation in Pointe-du-Chne. (Ed Hunter/CBC)

Eastern N.B.bore the brunt of post-tropical storm Fiona when it made landfall in Atlantic Canada early Saturday morning.

The storm knocked out power to more than 50,000 N.B. Power customers across the province, with the majority of those concentrated in the southeastregion.

WATCH | Hear a mother thankrescuers in Shediac, N.B.\:

Family rescued from flooded cottage during Hurricane Fiona

2 years ago
Duration 0:39
A mother thanks rescuers in Shediac, N.B. for help in fleeing flooded cottage

Bonnie Beers watched as storm surge waters slammed over the tide break along Pointe-du-ChneRoad, and created a large pool on her front lawn early Saturday morning.

"It was a wild night," she said.

Beers said no flood damage happened to the inside of her home, however, it was the first timeshe's seen a storm surge force so much water onto her property.

Bonnie Beers of Pointe-du-Chne said she's never seen storm surge waters come that high onto her property before. (Radio-Canada)

Lisa Wadupalso lives inPointe-du-Chne, and was monitoring the height of storm surge waters that were creeping up the road where she lives.

"It's coming up 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue and I'm on 3rd Avenue and Brydges Street and so it could come," she said, adding that she had some possessions packed up ready to leave.

Wadup noted that emergency crews were also on-scene, monitoring the water and responding where needed.

"Everybody was very prepared and the services were very good," she said.

"And we've been through this before,at least most peoplewho live here have been through this before so they sort of know what to do.And I'm sure some people won't leave they'll just stay."

With files from Margaud Castadere-Aycoberry, Aniekan Etuhube