Flood Details - 1993-04-11 - 1993-04-28

General: The major flooding was caused primarily by ice jams which occurred on the Saint John River between Edmundston and Woodstock, and its tributaries in the northwest area of New Brunswick. The most damaging flood occurred in Perth-Andover from April 12 to April 13. Floodwaters in Perth-Andover crested about 0.5 metres lower than in 1987, but still caused approximately $3.5 million damage. Minor floods occurred on the Tobique, Nashwaak, and Restigouche rivers. Major floods also occurred in southern Quebec. Green River: On April 11, an ice jam formed suddenly on the Green River which flooded a camp while it was occupied. The residents had to evacuate the camp quickly to avoid being trapped or swept away by the floodwaters. Tobique River: Ice jams formed at Wapske and Licford on April 11, causing a one metre rise in water levels. Water levels continued to rise at Wapske, and Route #109 was closed due to flooding early on April 12. The road re-opened later the same day after the ice jam released and water levels subsided. Two ice jams formed on April 13. One formed by Plaster Rock at the Route #108 highway bridge, 0.7 km in length, and another formed by Gladwyn, 23 km downstream of Plaster Rock, and was 2.7 km in length. In the evening, the jam at Plaster Rock dislodged. Shortly after, the ice cover at Arthurette moved, then jammed near the mouth of Trout Brook. The water level rose but no significant flooding occurred. The jam moved on April 14 and eventually came to rest about one kilometre downstream of Gladwyn, and was 2.9 km in length. Saint John River, upstream of Grand Falls: On April 11 and the 12th, large portions of the ice cover upstream of Rivière Verte began to move. By noon on April 12, an ice jam had formed at Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska that extended 10 km upstream to Rivière Verte. The ice jam moved small distances intermittently, but upstream ice was continuing to flow into it. Water levels upstream of the jam began to rise, and by 00:50 hours, April 13, floodwaters were 0.15 metres below the Trans Canada Highway at Rivière Verte. By 07:00 hours, the Trans Canada Highway was flooded by 0.1 metres of water and was closed at Rivière Verte. On April 13, the ice cover downstream of St. Leonard broke up and passed over the Grand Falls Dam, resulting in open water from the bridge at St. Leonard to Grand Falls. The ice jam at Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska intermittently moved and split, eventually forming two separate jams. By 17:00 hours the upper jam, eight kilometres in length, extended from Quisbis to the mouth of the Seigas River. One kilometre of open water separated it from the lower jam which was 1.3 km in length, followed by solid ice cover downstream to St. Leonard. Water levels dropped at Rivière Verte, but increased by Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska. The Trans Canada Highway re-opened at Rivière Verte, but was partially closed at Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska due to flooding. Little change occurred overnight, and at 6:00 hours on April 14, the ice jam continued to cause significant flooding from the Rivière Verte to Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska. Water levels at Rivière Verte had increased, closing the Trans Canada Highway once again. Flooding gradually diminished over the next 24 hours as the ice jam deteriorated and river flows declined. By 06:00 hours April 15, there was only minor flooding and the Trans Canada Highway was open. The head [upstream end] of the upper jam was located at Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska and extended five kilometres downstream. One kilometre of open water separated it from the lower jam, which was one kilometre in length. At 08:45 hours on April 15, the ice jam released and quickly passed downstream to Grand Falls. No further flooding occurred. Saint John River, Grand Falls to Beechwood: Late on April 11, the deteriorating ice cover began moving, and an ice jam formed by Morrell. By 23:10 hours, a section of Route 105 was flooded by 0.6 metres of water. The water level rose quickly, and by 00:17 hours, April 12, the ice jam was holding back up to 6.7 m of water. At 04:30 hours the jam began to move, allowing the local water level to drop over two metres in 15 minutes. At approximately 05:00 hours, April 12, the head (upstream end) of the ice jam moved pass Perth-Andover, causing the water level to rise quickly. At 06:30 hours, the jam lodged at Hillandale, just downstream of the mouth of Larlee Creek. The jam was 5.8 km in length, and extended upstream just beyond Perth-Andover to a point one kilometre below the mouth of the Tobique River. Low-lying areas in the town of Perth-Andover began to flood. Water levels in Perth-Andover rose 3.3 m in 3.5 hours, to peak at 77.34 m before the jam released at 08:50 hours. After releasing, the ice jam moved 10 km before lodging again by the mouth of Muniac Stream, at 11:07 hours. The water level in Perth-Andover, which had dropped to 75.59 m, increased to 76.26 m before the jam released again, at 12:46 hours. The jam moved three kilometres, then stopped 0.3 km upstream of the mouth of River de Chute, in the Upper Kent area, at 13:34 hours. The jam was now 4.2 km long, and the water level in Perth-Andover began to rise once more, after having dropped to 75.74 m at 13:45 hours. The water level increased steadily until about midnight, when it stabilized at approimately 78.2 m. A local "state of emergency" was declared in Perth-Andover on the evening of April 12. About 300 people were evacuated from their homes and the local hospital evacuated half of its patients. Floodwaters inundated the TransCanada Highway to a depth of 1.2 metres. On the opposite bank, Route 105 also flooded. Upstream, ice began to run on the Aroostook River, causing the Tinker Dam to spill ice for a total of eight hours between 17:15 hours, April 12, and 05:30 hours, April 13. An open channel developed immediately downstream of the jam during the evening of April 12, and several small movements occurred in the jam overnight. By 11:30 hours, April 13, the ice jam by the mouth of River de Chute had lengthened and separated into three separate jams. The most downstream jam, only 0.2 km long, was located by the Upper Kent airfield. Two kilometres of open water separated it from the middle 2.3 km long ice jam, located one kilometre upstream of the mouth of River de Chute. One kilometre of open water separated the middle jam from the most upstream and longest [3.7 km in length] jam, situated one kilometre upstream of the mouth of Muniac Stream, and 3.7 km in length. Water levels in Perth-Andover began increasing again during the late morning of April 13 as nine kilometres of Grand Falls headpond ice passed downstream and began accumulating at the head of the River de Chute ice jam. The Perth-Andover water level rose to a maximum of 78.66 m before the jam released at 19:30 hours, then quicky dropped to approximately 77.5 m. After releasing, the three separate jams recombined and lodged at the Irving piers at Upper Kent, located approximitely three kilometres downstream of the mouth of River de Chute. After lodging, the jam grew from 6.1 km to 7.9 km in length as more upstream ice arrived, but Perth-Andover water levels continued to slowly decline after 19:30 hours, April 13. By 06:00 hours, April 16, the Perth-Andover water level was 74.94 metres. The ice jam did not move again, and gradually melted in place. The remaining 18 patients at the local hospital were evacuated to a nursing home on higher ground on April 13 and 14th. The hospital's heating system was inoperative after being flooded. The local "state of emergency" and closure of the Trans Canada Highway remained in effect until April 14. Huge blocks of ice, mud, and uprooted trees lined the shoulders of the Trans Canada Highway for about 0.5 km after it was re-opened.. Since April 12, only light vehicle traffic had been able to use the detour around the closed section of the Trans Canada Highway, and two dozen tractor-trailers had been awaiting its re-opening. Some homes could not be reoccupied following the flood. Saint John River, Beechwood to Mactaquac: On April 11 the ice began to move and jam below Florenceville. An ice jam, initially two kilometres in length, moved intermittently throughout the day, causing high water levels and minor flooding at various locations on the river as it passed by. It stopped briefly at Buckwheat Brook, Stickney, and Hartland. At Simonds, the water level peaked at 47.23 metres at 16:30 hours. At 17:45 hours the ice jam lodged 2.5 km downstream of Deep Creek, causing some flooding of roads in the Hartland area. The Hartland water level rose until the jam released at 19:30 hours, reaching a maximum level of 45.79 metres. At 21:20 hours the jam lodged at Pine Island by Newburg Junction, and was five kilometres in length. Shortly after midnight on April 12, the ice jam moved 4.6 km, lodging at Grafton at 01:00 hours, where it remained until 05:20 hours. Then the jam passed by Woodstock, before lodging two kilometres downstream of the pumping station at 08:00 hours. After the jam dislodged from Grafton, the Woodstock water level increased approximately 4.5 metres, to a peak of 42.39 metres at 10:15 hours. A minor movement of the jam occurred at 09:10 hours, and a large channel opened below the jam, which extended two kilometres downstream by 11:00 hours. Centennial Park, Water Street in Woodstock and the Shore Road in Grafton were closed due to flooding. Ice was also clearing from the Meduxnekeag River, causing flooding of the New Brunswick Community College lower parking lot, near the river's mouth. Chunks of thick, blue ice were piled on either side of the moving channel. Some ice chunks were two to three metres wide, and 0.5 metres thick. Water levels declined little until 16:30 hours when the jam moved 1.8 km downstream, close to the settlement of Bulls Creek. Subsequently, water levels gradually increased again to about 42.3 metres. At 00:10 hours, April 13, the ice jam moved 0.6 km and lodged at the island by Bulls Creek. Subsequently, the Woodstock water level increased to the flood maximum of 43.13 metres at 07:30 hours. By 08:30 hours several channels were observed opening up below the ice jam, and the Woodstock water level began to drop slightly. At 14:00 hours April 13, the jam moved 8.5 km, stopping at Hillman from 15:30 hours to 20:09 hours, before moving another 7.6 km to its final resting point about two kilometres downstream of Meductic. At Woodstock water levels dropped substantially after the jam dislodged from the island at Bulls Creek at 14:00 hours. At 01:00 hours April 14, the water level had dropped to 41.5 metres. Saint John River, below Mactaquac: On April 13 at 11:00 hours, the Fredericton water level reached 6.52 metres, slightly exceeding flood stage. The water level rose slightly higher, peaking at approximately 6.6 metres on April 13. Further precipitation and snowmelt during April increased water levels in the lower Saint John River moderately. At Jemseg, water levels barely reached the flood stage of 4.3 metres on April 20 before dropping off. Subsequently, the Jemseg water level increased again, and remained above flood stage from April 24 to April 28, reaching a peak of 4.53 metres on April 25. No major flooding occurred. Restigouche River Basin: On April 12, minor flooding occurred in the Wyers Brook area just upstream of the mouth of the Upsalquitch River. Some ice, slush, and water was left on the road, but it was easily removed with a grader. One house was located beyond the flooded area.

Spring freshet and ice jams. Rain fell over the upper Saint John River Basin on April 11 and April 12. A reduced snow cover in December and January produced thicker and stronger ice cover on many rivers. On the Saint John River, ice was an average of 25 mm thicker than normal, and contained a higher proportion of blue ice.

Saint John River, Grand Falls to Beechwood: It was the third major flood in Perth-Andover in 26 years, with floods in 1987 and 1976 being more severe. Saint John River, Beechwood to Mactaquac: By Woodstock, some ice chunks were two to three metres wide, and 0.5 metres thick.

General: A total of 393 claims totalling $8 080 219 were processed for flood-related damages at Perth-Andover, Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, and Woodstock by the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization. An additional $4 305 568, shared 50/50 between the Provincial and Federal governments, was invested in a flood damage prevention program. As part of this program, 61 homes were relocated, 39 homes were flood-proofed, and 16 homes were bought from their owners. The bulk of the damages occurred in Perth-Andover, where 54 homes were relocated. Seven homes were relocated in Rivière Verte. The New Brunswick Department of Transportation estimated damages of $353 000 to the Province¿s highway system. The total federal payment for 1993 floods was $6 500 013 under Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements. Saint John River, upstream of Grand Falls: In the Rivière Verte the Sainte-Anne-de-Madawska area, 85 homes sustained flood damages of approximately $292 000. Three weeks after the flood, three area families remained displaced from their homes. Two families were housed in rental accommodations, and one family was staying in a camper-trailer on their own property. Saint John River, Grand Falls to Beechwood: In Perth-Andover, approximately 250 residents were evacuated from 90 homes during the flood. Newspaper reports estimated $1.1 million in total damage to private homes and businesses was. About 30 families were displaced, and most did not have permanent housing three weeks after the flood.In Perth-Andover, floodwaters washed out roadways and inundated many houses up to the bottom of the ground floor windows. A private garage was flooded by about two metres of water, almost totally submerging it. The ground floor of the local hospital was flooded to a depth of about 0.5 metres, and estimates of hospital damage were reported to be over $1 million. The arena was flooded and severely damaged. The repeated rise and fall of the floodwaters damaged foundations from both surface water and ground water effects. At one home, a third of the basement floor was buckled. The 0.15 metre thick concrete floor was heaved up as much as 0.66 metres. A new, 14 unit, senior citizens complex was opened in August 1993. It was originally planned to have eight units, but an extra six were added to accommodate seniors whose homes were damaged in the flood. Saint John River, Beechwood to Mactaquac: The town of Woodstock sustained damages in the order of $150 000. Flooding cut off the fresh water supply, shut down the sewage treatment plant, and closed schools and roads. Floods damaged playground equipment and metal guard rails. Woodstock council considered replacing metal guard rails with concrete traffic barriers along the banks of the Meduxnekeag River, as the concrete barriers would not be as prone to flood damage. Removable playground equipment was also considered as a way of reducing flood damages in future.