Government of New Brunswick
Moncton
Parkindale
Apohaqui
Bloomfield, Kings County
Alma
Frosty Hollow
Sussex Corner
Sussex
Norton
Saint John
Wards Creek
Simonds
Heavy rain
High tides
$322,000.00

Affected Areas


Flooding occurred along many rivers where bridges, highways and railway lines were washed out. Several communities or portions thereof were isolated. The flooding was generally confined to the southeastern portion of the Province. The heaviest damages were outside of the Saint John River Basin. Saint John Area: In Saint John, flooding occurred in the northern and eastern sections of the City and surrounding areas. Streets and highways were blocked. Numerous basements were flooded and considerable damage to homes in East Saint John and Simmonds area was reported. Marsh Creek area was inundated. A number of Glen Falls residents moved to and from their homes by boat. Eleven families in the Saint John area were stranded; three at Gardiner's Creek and eight at Black River when the old Black River Road Bridge and another at Gardiner¿s Creek were washed out. Another bridge on Red Head Road was also swept away. Kennebecasis River Basin: In Kings County, the Kennebecasis River and its tributaries flooded highways, washed out bridges, invaded businesses and forced people from their homes. Sussex Area: At Sussex Corner, Highway 2 was inundated for approximately one-quarter mile [400m]. In Sussex, Ward's Creek overflowed, inundating O'Connell Park with more than one foot [0.3m] of water. The floodwater re-entered its original course just south of the Main Street bridge. Several families on Holman Avenue had to vacate their homes when they became surrounded by the floodwater. All the homes in this area had flooded basements resulting in minor damage except one, which had problems with the foundation. Homes on Stewart Avenue also experienced flooded cellars. On Maple Avenue, water was reported to have risen to within one foot [0.3m] of the Save-Easy Store's ground floor. The pumping station and sewerage departments were isolated when water coursed along Magnolia Avenue and through private property to Main Street. Floodwaters entered the service station of Lawson Motors Limited and Queen Street Extension was inundated about a quarter mile from the river's normal course. Most of the town was left in darkness for a time when a 66 kilowatt power line toppled as a result of a pole being washed out. Flooding of a service station occurred at the Roachville Bridge on Sussexs western outskirts and several vehicles were submerged. At Apohaqui, some 40 000 feet [approx. 12 000m] of logs at Jones Bros. Limited sawmill (on the banks of the Millstream) were washed away. Norton Area: At Norton, the river inundated stores, homes and cut off the southern section of the community from outside communication. The Main Street was submerged by three feet [0.9m] of water for several hours. Two stores (E.K. Cripps and Perkins Hardware) were flooded to a depth of two feet [0.6m] or more. The water was reported to have reached the step below the cement entrance to Burley's Mart. Many homes in Norton could be reached by boat only. A small cement bridge (across Smith¿s Brook) at Bloomfield was washed out. Other highway closures occurred at Berwick and Apohaqui. At Fundy National Park, several roads were washed out, and Alma could not be reached from the east. Extensive damage was also reported to have occurred to the golf course. Petitcodiac River Basin: In the Moncton area, several homes were reported as being evacuated and water poured over dozens of streets. Communications and business activities were disrupted because of flooded roads and commercial establishments. In the west end of the City, an earthen dam at Jones Lake was overtopped, inundating a service station. The underpass on the Salisbury Road was flooded. The highway at Jones Lake was inundated and a washout occurred between MacKinnon Road and the Uplands School. West Main Street was submerged; huge ice cakes dotted the streets and damaged several parked cars. At 1615 Main Street, water rose over the first floor. Residents were forced to evacuate at least six homes on New Street. A bridge, on Royal Boulevard, over Jonathan Creek, was submerged. A bridge was washed out at Parkindale. Two other bridges were washed out, one at College Bridge and one over the Shediac River. Highway 2, between Moncton and Sackville, was submerged at Fox Creek, Breau Creek and at Frosty Hollow. A freight train was marooned 14 miles [approx. 23km] east of Moncton at College Bridge. The C.N.R. roadbed had been washed out. Other washouts occurred on the C.N.R.'s Springhill, Tormentine and Middleton Sub-Divisions. Sackville Area: At Middle Sackville, Cedar Brook and Silver Lake overflowed, flooding residences and business establishments. In Sackville, most of the town was without power and the drinking water was contaminated for several days. Streets were covered with water and several houses in one section of town were evacuated. Commercial establishments in the eastern end of town were affected, these included Black's Hardware, Chignecto Bakery and Armco Drainage and Metal Products plant as well as two warehouses near the railway tracks. Many basements were flooded as a result of clogged drains and ditches. Three streets were closed to traffic and others were threatened in the areas of Lorne, Dufferin and Wellington streets. The Lorne Street pumping station was inundated to a depth of 15 feet [4.6m]. The C.N.R. railway line was flooded in a number of places within the Town of Sackville and a washout occurred between Sackville and Amherst. A large, arc-shaped, lake formed alongside the C.N.R. line, which extended from Sackville to Frosty Hollow.
A heavy rain from March 31 to April 2. Normal high tides may have impeded the drainage of the runoff in the Sackville area.
Moncton Area: A record 4.3 inches [109mm] of rain fell at Moncton in a 24 hour period; the previous high was 3.92 inches [99.6mm] recorded in September, 1940. The flooding which occurred in the Moncton area was said to be the heaviest in memory. Sackville Area: At Sackville, it was reported that about 25 inches [0.6mm] of snow was on the ground prior to the rain and flooding. Sussex Area: Official records reported 5.04 inches [128mm] of rain at Sussex. The flooding in the Sussex area was said to be the "worst in many years, perhaps since 1923". A total rainfall of 5.24 inches [133mm] for three days was recorded in the City of Saint John.
Moncton Area: The estimated damage from newspaper reports for the Service Station in the west end of Moncton was $25 000. Sackville Area: Black's Hardware Store, in Sackville, estimated damages at $75 000. At least 50 people in Sackville were forced from their homes and the property damage was extensive. The total damages in Sackville were estimated to be in the order of $197 000 and were reported as follows: Business and Industry $175 000 Municipal Property $ 12 000 Private $ 10 000 (minimum) Sussex Area: Damages in Kings County were reported to be very heavy and they were estimated to have exceeded $100 000. A small quantity of lumber was swept away from the Phillip¿s Lumber Company's yard at the end of Holman Avenue, Sussex. For only the second time in its history, the mill, owned by Jones Bros. Ltd. in Apohaqui, sustained losses due to flooding.