Flood Details - 1976-08-10 - 1976-08-11

Upper Saint John River Basin: Heavy rain caused water levels of five major rivers in Madawaska County to rise above normal for the time of year. In Edmundston, private property on the east and west sides of the river had been eroded away, basements were flooded and cracked under hydrostatic pressure. Boulders were reported to have been impeding traffic on several residential streets including Avenues 47 through 40 off Victoria Street. In St. Jacques, about 100 feet [about 30 m] of the village's main road was washed out along with extensive property damage.Water was reported to be covering the Trans Canada Highway near the Wandlyn Motel and one lane near the Power Road Exit was closed for a two hour period. The flooding was reported as having caused many deep washouts, some over 30 feet in length. Route #14, between Edmundston and St. Basile, was washed out at Iroquois. The road between Madawaska and Fort Kent, Maine, was closed for a few hours and damage was said to be extensive. Restigouche River Basin: As a result of the heavy rains in the headwaters of the Kedgwick, Restigouche and Little Main, the Restigouche River rose six feet, two inches [1.88 m] at Matapedia according to officials of the Restigouche Salmon Club.

Hurricane Belle.

"Unofficial estimates indicated eight inches of rain had fallen when tropical storm Belle passed through the area". Between August 8 and August 11, Edmundston recorded 178.3 mm [7.0 inches] of rain. Flash flooding occurred during the evening of August 10.

Upper Saint John River Basin: "A list of the damage compiled by the Provincial Department of Transportation showed most of the damage was in the form of washed out culverts". Crop damage in Aroostook County, Maine, USA, was estimated at more than $2 150 000. Restigouche River Basin: No serious damage resulted from the high water in Restigouche County although it was reported that a number of canoe docks had been swept away. A report prepared by the Department of Public Works (Canada) contained the following estimates of damage to the Public Sector in Madawaska County: SUMMARY OF RESTORATION COSTS DepartmentCost of Restoration Transportation $ 112 880 Municipal Affairs $ 42 050 TOTAL $ 154 930 SUMMARY OF RESTORATION COSTS TO HIGHWAYS Area Restoration Costs District 10 - Madawaska County $ 112 880 TOTAL $ 112 880 SUMMARY OF RESTORATION COSTS TO MUNICIPAL PROPERTY Municipality Restoration Costs Edmundston $ 33 100 St. Basile $ 6 370 St. Jacques $ 2 580 TOTAL $ 42 050