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Rising floodwater in Saskatchewan

Apr. 30, 2013, Regina, SK - Rising floodwater has forced more than 50 people from their homes on a Saskatchewan First Nation and led to emergencies in half a dozen communities.

Five Saskatchewan municipalities and two First Nations were under states of emergency Tuesday.

The towns of Maidstone and Radisson, the village of Borden, the rural municipality of Great Bend and the Poundmaker First Nation - all located northwest of Saskatoon - had declared emergencies.

A state of emergency was in place in the east-central rural municipality of Elfros and the Sakimay First Nation, located near Grenfell between Regina and the Manitoba boundary.

Just over 50 people were moved off the Poundmaker reserve and put up in hotels in surrounding communities.

Duane McKay, Saskatchewan's commissioner of emergency management, says about 50 homes are also at risk in the town of Radisson and residents are on alert to move.

The water is just beginning to flow in many areas because the snow melt has been delayed by colder-than-normal temperatures this spring.

Temperatures were cooler again Tuesday and brought fresh snow across much of southern Saskatchewan. But officials said that was a good thing because it slowed how fast water levels increased.

Saskatchewan's Water Security Agency says the entire southern half of Saskatchewan will see water run-off levels above or well above normal. Run-off is expected to be very high and flooding is likely to occur from Moose Jaw to Indian Head, including Regina, and south past Weyburn to near the United States border. Saskatoon, Prince Albert and North Battleford are in the red zone as well.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Water Security Agency warned people to be aware of the potential for ice jamming on the North Saskatchewan River between the Borden bridge and Prince Albert.

 

May 1, 2013  By Jennifer Graham The Canadian Press


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