Flood Details - 1953-02-07 - 1953-02-08

In Kings County, torrential rains caused the rivers and brooks to overflow, but dropping temperatures followed by snow relieved some of the concern. Kennebecasis River Basin: The district highway engineer stated "water had flowed over the roads in several places". The Belleisle area, Highway #14 leading from Penobsquis to Alma and the Plumweseep Road were some of the areas affected. No serious washouts were reported. In the Norton area, an ice jam on the Kennebecasis River, about two miles [3.2m] west of Norton, backed up water to the danger point before breaking under its own pressure. Fences were broken and other minor damage was reported. Many cellars throughout the county were reported to be flooded or taking in water. Southeastern New Brunswick: In Westmorland County, hundreds of acres of marshland were flooded. The highway between Westcock and Frosty Hollow was inundated to a depth of four to five feet [1.2m to 1.5m]. Several cars and trucks were reported to have left the road, and motorists were forced to detour via the Fairfield Road between Sackville and Dorchester. Tantramar River Basin: In Sackville, many basements were flooded except in the higher sections of town. The RO-KIN Playground and Memorial Park (corner of Bridge and Lorne streets) was inundated and reported as "resembling a choppy lake". The pumping station on Lorne Street was flooded and several motors were put out of commission. The highway between Sackville and Amherst was flooded by water a few inches in depth at several locations.

A rainfall of 2.70 inches [68.6mm] was reported at Sussex, while at Sackville, 3.60 inches [91.4mm] of rain was reported to have fallen in a 36 hour period. Kennebecasis River Basin: The water level in the Kennebecasis River, at Norton was estimated to be 20 feet [approx. 6m] above normal summer levels before the ice jam broke. Tantramar River Basin: At Sackville, it was stated that "all drainage was taxed far beyond capacity." The highway between Westcock and Frosty Hollow was inundated to a depth of four to five feet [1.2m to 1.5m].