Flood Details - 2020-12-01 - 2020-12-02

An early December rainstorm hit New Brunswick on the 1st and 2nd, leading to flooding in several areas of southern New Brunswick. Sussex and Sussex Corner were hit hardest by the downpour. At least 10 homes and 16 residents in the area were evacuated due to the heavy rain. Local fire departments were able to rescue the stranded families with boats, bringing them to dry land. Red Cross volunteers arranged emergency lodging for the residents. Hundreds of properties were affected by the storm, and many had water in their basements. Trout Creek, which passes through the area, reached flood stage on the evening of December 1st. Conditions didn’t improve until about 4 a.m. on the 2nd. One woman had the bridge connecting her property to the main road wash away after a nearby culvert was dammed with fallen trees and debris, causing the area to flood. She says the water levels were higher than she’s ever seen in her 40 years of living there. According to the Town of Sussex, several streets were closed at the height of the flooding, including McLean Street, Pine Street, Wallace Court, Golding Street, Arnold Avenue, Willow Court, Holman Avenue, Stewart Avenue from Maple Avenue to the entrance of Barbours Foods, Mills Lane, Maxwell Drive intersection at Pine Street, Leonard Drive, King Street, Birch Street and Perry Street. In Saint John, the road to the Irving Nature Park was closed for a period on the 1st when the combination of waves and high tides sent water over the road.

Environment Canada precipitation totals for December 1st and 2nd: Saint John: 95.5 mm Sussex: 67.8 mm

One resident of Meadow Crescent in Sussex Corner lost her washer and dryer, a mattress, and several totes when water from Trout Creek began filling into her basement. Another resident lost nearly everything in her basement apartment.