Flood Details - 1973-07-05 - 1973-07-05

Blocked roadways, flooded basements and farms, and problems in Centennial Park were some of the results of heavy rain which fell on the Moncton area on the evening of July 5th. A spokesperson for the city said swimming in the Centennial Park Pool would have to be suspended due to flash flooding in the area. The west road into the park had washed out because of the flooding. City police issued a warning to parents in the West Lane area to keep their children away from the Hall’s Creek bridge at the end of the lane due to the swollen and swift moving creek. Water from Jones Lake had overflowed its banks and was pouring over onto Main Street. Numerous reports were received of washouts affecting culverts and road shoulders in the Petitcodiac area and near Stilesville and the Gorge Road. Farmers with land bordering the Petitcodiac River were forced to wear hip-waders to access their land as the river level rose 1.5 meters in some places.

Environment Canada rainfall totals for July 5th: Moncton: 85.3 mm Sackville: 38.1 mm

Damage to the Centennial Pool was estimated between $4,000 and $5,000. A farmer outside of Salisbury received extensive damage to his land from the rising water, as 25 acres of hay land were inundated. A hay baler and rake were also in the field. The farmer was unable to give an accurate estimate of the damage, but he did say 60 to 70 tons of hay were destroyed by the flooding.