Saint John flood levels expected to stablize Tuesday

Floodwaters in the Saint John region are expected to stabilize on Tuesday before slowly receding, officials say.

The St. John River reached 5.7 metres on Monday, whichSaint John EMO believes will be the peak level.

The water should continue to fluctuate around that levelon Tuesday before dipping to 5.5 metres by Wednesday and down to 4.8 metres Friday, according to the provincial five-day outlook.

EMO initially expected the water would continue to rise on Tuesday before peaking at 5.8 metres.

"Asigh of (some) relief may be in sight" for residents affected byhistoric flooding, the city posted on Twitter around 1:30 p.m.

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Flood stage for the region is 4.2 metres.

Citizens are urged to continue toexercise extreme caution as floodconditionswill persist for the "foreseeable future."

The recovery will take much longer, the head of the city's Emergency Measures Organization advised on Sunday.

"Wethink recovery is going to be really long," said Kevin Clifford, who is also the city's fire chief.

The recovery could take "10 times" as long as the flooding itself, which started more than a week ago.

Avoid railway tracks

In the meantime, emergency officials are warning citizens to stay away from the New Brunswick Southern Railway line.

Some people have been observed walking the tracks in the Westfield Road area, on the city's west side.

It wouldbesubstantially tragic to get through this incidentand have something as preventable as a railway accident be the story.- Kevin Clifford, Saint John EMO

The rail line remains active, with freight trainsrunning in and out of the area throughout the day.

"Never walk on or along railroad tracks. It posesa serious risk to public safety and that of rail operations," the city said in an advisory.

"It is not only dangerous, but also illegal."

Clifford said he understands people are just trying to get to their homes, which have been cut off by flooding.

But "it wouldbesubstantially tragic to get through this incident, through this emergency environment, and have something as preventable as a railway accident be the story.

"We're trying to get through this incident without a significant human loss."

People might think they would hear the train coming and move out of the way in time, but Clifford said some of the access paths are very narrow and don't allow enough room for a person to step aside.

They could also have headphones on or be otherwise distracted, he said.

"If they find they have to use the railway, the choices are stay home or evacuate. Using the railway as a means of getting back and forth is dangerous."