Flood Details - 2019-04-19 - 2019-05-06

River Watch 2019 began March 12th. The rate of snow melt would be key this year as there was more snow on the ground in some northern parts of the province than in 2018. On April 19th, River Watch released a statement saying that flooding was forecast in more than 15 communities between Saint-François-de-Madawaska and Saint John in the following days. Meetings between the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization and representatives from the Canadian Armed Forces were taking place, and a Government of New Brunswick request for assistance in dealing with the anticipated flooding had been accepted by the federal government. Heavy rain in southern parts of the province on April 15th and in central and northwestern parts on April 19th and 20th enhanced the threat of flooding in many communities. The Emergency Measures Organization was closely monitoring the Restigouche River, Middle River and the Tetagouche River where water levels and ice jams were posed to impact residences and roads. On April 21st, water levels in the Saint John River reached or were beyond flood stage in Clair/Fort Kent, Saint-Hilaire, and Edmundston in the northern area, as well as Fredericton, Maugerville, Jemseg and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner in the south. Forty-seven roads had already been impacted, including 25 road closures. Approximately 240 Canadian Armed Forces members joined efforts with the province on April 22nd and began conducting tasks in support of preparedness and response operations. In Fredericton, several bridge access ramps and streets were closed. Businesses were strongly encouraging employees to minimize the use of personal vehicles in the downtown area by using public transit, using the park and ride service organized by the city, arranging flexible or staggered work hours, or walking, biking or carpooling. The Emergency Measures Organization in Saint John issued a voluntary evacuation order on the 22nd that affected residents on Randolph Island, Westfield Road, Ragged Point Road, Beach Road, and several other isolated areas along the Saint John River within the City of Saint John. The city’s emergency measures organization said about 650 people lived in those areas. Floodwaters in Fredericton surpassed 2018 levels at 8.37 meters on the 23rd. Water levels were expected to stabilize in the capital city over the following days before beginning to recede but were expected to keep rising further down the Saint John River basin. In Saint John, water levels reached 4.8 meters and were forecast to reach 5.7 meters by the 16th, the same as last year’s peak. The city planned to temporarily build up the west end of the Westfield Road near Mellinger Crescent, to maintain access to the Ketepec-Belmont-Morna area. During this time, over 185 households had registered with the Red Cross and 218 NB Power customers had their services disconnected due to safety concerns. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure was reporting 84 road closures, including the Trans Canada Highway between Fredericton and Moncton which had closed at 7 p.m. on the 24th. Satellite imagery collected by Service New Brunswick on April 25th showed that 16,155 properties had been touched by floodwater, although not all buildings on those properties had been affected. These included properties with a house (6,786), properties with a cottage (2,494), properties with other buildings such as businesses, churches, etc. (793) and land only, such as farms, timber lands, vacant lands, etc. (6,082). Another 100 members from the Armed Forces joined the 250 troops already on the ground assisting in flood affected areas. Maugerville was just shy of 7.0 meters on the 26th but was sitting at nearly a meter above flood stage. In Sheffield-Lakeville Corner, water was expected to stabilize at about 6.7 meters and in Jemseg at about 6.4 meters. Saint-Hilaire was the only community north of Fredericton still above the flood stage. In Grand Bay-Westfield, crews worked to keep rising water off the village’s main road, using dump trucks to pile up dirt and a grader to smooth it over to allow traffic to pass. Flood levels peaked in the Saint John area on the 26th at 5.53 meters and were expected to begin to recede, but many property owners were still bracing for more damage with high winds in the forecast. At the Saint John Marina, which was seriously damaged by flooding the year before, volunteers helped sandbag and berm the property and were running 12 different sump pumps in the building. Soldiers provided an unofficial shuttle in Dominion Park to move people in and out of the area, and people on Darlings Island were being shuttled by boat. More than 85 roads across the province were closed or partially closed due to water, and four of the province’s river ferries were not in operation. There were no longer any communities in the upper basin above flood stage. Water levels in Grand Lake, Jemseg, and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner were still more than a meter above flood level. Search and rescue teams were deployed on Grand Lake near Waterborough on April 27th after a call was received around 10:30 p.m. indicating that three distress signal flares were seen in Sypher’s Cove. Four boats participated in the search, which was suspended during the night due to poor weather. The search resumed before dawn, but nothing was found and there were no reports of missing persons. Water levels slowly began to recede in May, and residents were able to get a full picture of the damage that had been done. The Red Cross was once again offering free flood clean-up kits, and flood debris pick-ups were being planned. Residents were encouraged to take advantage of all available resources, familiarize themselves with the proper methods to clean and repair their homes, and learn how to properly dispose of flood damaged items. Tipping fees for non-hazardous materials were being waived at some landfills. Free water testing was being provided and fees for certain building permits and Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permits were also being waived. On May 3rd, the province launched its Disaster Financial Assistance program to help individuals, small businesses and municipalities cope with property damage from the freshet. This year the program included increased advance payments of up to $15,000 to ensure residents could return to their homes as soon as possible. The maximum assistance for structural repairs to private residences was $160,000, while the maximum for small businesses and not-for-profit organizations was $500,000. Buy-outs were being offered in cases where structural damage exceeded 80 percent of the appraised value of the property. Over 500 households consisting of 1,262 people had registered with the Red Cross and 144 households were being sheltered. The provincial director of the Canadian Red Cross said that about 70 percent of evacuees that had registered this year had also registered during the 2018 flood. Health and safety inspection teams began assessing damage to flood affected homes and businesses in areas across the province to determine whether residents or owners could safely return. By May 6th, the only area where water levels remained above flood level was in Jemseg.

Environment Canada rainfall totals for April 15th: Saint John: 42 mm Sussex Four Corners: 28.1 mm Environment Canada rainfall totals for April 19th and 20th: Fredericton: 47.7 mm Aroostook: 43.4 mm Miramichi: 40.2 mm Woodstock: 39 mm Sussex Four Corners: 28.9 mm High water level (flood stage): Clair/Fort Kent: 156.87 m (156.2 m) Edmundston: 142.18 m (139.0 m) Fredericton: 8.37 m (6.5 m) Maugerville: 7.10 m (6.0 m) Jemseg: 6.55 m (4.3 m) Grand Lake: 6.63 m (5.0 m) Sheffield-Lakeville Corner: 6.82 m (4.8 m) Oak Point: 5.77 m (4.7 m) Quispamsis-Saint John: 5.56 m (4.2 m)

Floodwaters caused significant damage to the Victoria County SPCA in Authurette on April 16th. The shelter had to be evacuated after more than 2.4 meters of water poured into its basement. Thirty-nine cats were relocated. Staff said the shelter would need to make repairs to sewer lines and its furnace as well as have its water and electrical systems tested before it could reopen. Flooding along the Tobique also occurred in St. Almo and O’Dell, leading to several families evacuating their properties over safety concerns. On Grand Lake, at least five properties suffered major structural damage from waves and high winds, mostly in the Princess Park area. It was announced in July that the road leading to Darling’s Island would be realigned and raised during the summer of 2019 as part of the provincial government’s flood mitigation plan. When raised, the road would be in line with the elevation of the nearby covered bridge, about six meters above sea level. Some parts of the road would have to be raised more than two meters. Three houses were purchased, to be moved or torn down to allow for the construction. Construction on the project was started in August and was expected to be completed by October. On August 16th it was announced that the federal government would provide $11.4 million to help prevent flooding in New Brunswick’s capital city. The City of Fredericton would contribute $14.1 million. The federal money would be spread out over eight years, and would pay for the construction of berms, flood gates and wetlands to protect key infrastructure, transportation networks and private property. The final selection of projects was to be determined at a later date. Days before the August 30th Disaster Financial Assistance program deadline, the province had received 679 damage reports and 250 disaster financial assistance applications, about a third of what they received in 2018. Over $51,000 in personal, municipal and provincial costs had been paid out to individuals in the Kings County area. Two buy-outs had also occurred, in which the province bought homes which had 80 percent or more of their value damaged. In October, City of Fredericton workers began installing valves in storm sewer systems in flood prone neighbourhoods to stop floodwaters, ahead of next years spring flood season. More advanced warning, preparations and lessons learned from 2018 helped lessen flood impacts and costs in 2019.