Stranded resort guests in the Whiteshell are evacuating Sunday.
Falcon Trails Resort guests Taylor McMillan and Pete Moore arrived Friday evening looking forward to a relaxing weekend, until heavy rains washed out the only road back to Winnipeg.
The couple tried to evacuate Saturday, but by the time they packed up, it was too late to leave.
The road was flooded and eroding.
"People tried to leave with a Toyota Corolla and they had no chance," said McMillan.
Saturday, the province issued voluntarily evacuations for people in the Whiteshell area.
Taylor McMillan & Pete Moore got stranded at Falcon Trails Resort Sat after+130mm of rain fell in Whiteshell #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/Olraz09IW1
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
McMillian and Moore need to return to the city for work Monday morning. They say they made the best of their stay Saturday by swimming and canoeing, but today it's raining and miserable. They believe there are about 15 guests who were stranded at the resort.
Sunday, Falcon Trails Resort owner Barb Hamilton told CTV the resort rented a boat to bring guests back to shore. She is also boating in guests with reservations. With the busy summer season, Hamilton said she is staying open.
Falcon Trails Resort renting a boat to get guests in and out. South Shore Rd. flooded and eroded. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/zhVuFzhb7l
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
Paul Dubourg one of the several cottagers getting off Falcon Lake by boat after South Shore Rd flooded. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/pU9xvbFd53
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
"It's a lot of unknowns," said McMillian from the resort. "We don't know when we can come back and get the car."
Local Fire Chief Bruce Morrison said the water is going to take weeks to subside and roads will need to be rebuilt.
This is what Hwy 44 in between West Hawk Lake and Caddy Lake looks like today post #mbstorm. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/aHuPg5PKil
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
Here is some of devastation at West Hawk Lake by beach. Appears lots of water flowed down main road Sat. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/4z69KDCreo
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
He said it's shocking the area is seeing this extreme weather after the wildfires threatened dozens of cottages and homes this spring.
He said South Shore Road is flooded. Morrison said the road leads to about 300 cottages, but doesn't know how many people stayed behind.
Also at risk, he said, is Highway 312, the road to Caddy Lake and Ingolf, Ont. He said at the moment the road is passable, but doesn't know for how much longer.
Whiteshell washout today on way to GBR #GBRstrong pic.twitter.com/oiBcWm8e9f
— Doc Tétrault ✈️ (@doctorb22) June 26, 2016
Water still covers the road in West Hawk Lake in front of the Nite Hawk Cafe. Several other roads and hiking trails in the area are also impassable.
@CBCManitoba @ctvwinnipeg @globalwinnipeg West Hawk Beach this morning. pic.twitter.com/a7Umo8v4yK
— Teresa Giesbrecht (@Treizlou) June 26, 2016
Paul Dubourg one of the several cottagers getting off Falcon Lake by boat after South Shore Rd flooded. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/pU9xvbFd53
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
Cole Lassell's family stuck on South Shore Rd. He walked through water but officials say it's not safe now. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/vwcXY511jB
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
Situation on South Shore Rd. resolved. Family w/ baby drives through. Conservation officers nervously watch. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/v8ntDa6fFn
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) June 26, 2016
Environment Canada meteorologist Mike McDonald says overnight Friday going on to Saturday, the Whiteshell area received very high rainfall amounts between 130 and 140 millimetres.
At the Falcon Lake Forestry station 136 mm of rain was recorded. 140 mm of rain fell at the West Hawk Golf Station.
"Lots of rain and flooding, definitely wet out there," McDonald said.
McDonald said Sunday the area is expected to get another 5 mm of rain, but it is expected to taper off by the afternoon.