Hundreds of homeowners are anxiously waiting to hear whether the province will undertake a deliberate dike breach on the Assiniboine River near Hoop and Holler Bend, southeast of Portage la Prairie.
The move is being considered to deal with record-breaking flows on the Assiniboine River in the area.
The province held a media conference shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday and officials said a new tentative time for the controlled breach is slated for 6 a.m. Saturday, if needed. The timeline, however, could change if an uncontrolled breach occurs, which would prompt an emergency response.
Officials have postponed the controlled breach a number of times over the past few days.
"We bought a lot of valuable time," said Steve Ashton, the province's minister of emergency measures. Ashton said river levels are surpassing record levels on the Assiniboine in the area set in 1976.
He said recent weather has helped in the flood fight.
Ashton said the delays in a controlled breach have enabled crews and homeowners to work on flood-protection measures.
He also credited crews for "heroic efforts" in maintaining high flows through the Portage Diversion and the Assiniboine River.
Dikes in the area have been built up, but about 14 homes in the immediate area around Hoop and Holler Bend have been evacuated.
Response from residents
With some homes already evacuated, other homeowners were also considering leaving Thursday.
"We're probably (going to) go later today…I don't know where (yet)," said Candace Unrau.
While some were preparing to leave, others were hoping they could do more, or wishing a firm decision was reached on whether to carry out the controlled breach on the dike.
Jim Leslie's house is among those at risk.
"Probably the lack of knowledge is the worst – no indication of what's going on," said Leslie on Thursday morning.
The controlled release could affect an area of approximately 225 square kilometres and around 150 homes, said the province.
Province's plan for a possible controlled dike breach
Earlier this week, the province said a controlled release of water from the river might be needed to lower water levels and guard against the potential for uncontrolled breaches along the Assiniboine River between Portage la Prairie and Headingley.
Officials said a controlled release, which would involve creating a gap in the dike, would only happen if the Portage Diversion is unable to handle increased flows, or if dikes appear at risk of uncontrolled breaches.
In an uncontrolled breach, about 850 homes would be at risk and it could affect an area of 500 square kilometres in communities including St. Eustache, Elie, St. Francois Xavier, Poplar Point and La Salle, among others, said the province.
Under the plan being considered for a controlled release, a small amount of water would be let out at first, with the flow increasing in the days that followed, said provincial officials.
A road near Hoop and Holler Bend has been acting as a dike, holding back water from the Assiniboine River.
Crews have been working to surround it with large limestone boulders, or rip rap. If the decision is made to go ahead with a deliberate dike breach, crews will make a cut less than a metre deep into the road and water will flow through the boulders, absorbing the impact of the waves. The province said the rocks would slow down the flow of water, making it a controlled release.
Residents undertake measures
Residents in the Delta Beach area were driving into Portage la Prairie to pick up sandbags for their residences on the south shore of Lake Manitoba.
In Elie, residents are working to sandbag homes. A group of students was also helping in efforts. Residents there have also been given evacuation notices and were told to be ready to leave their homes with six hours notice, if need be.
A ring dike was also slated to be completed around the town of Elie on Thursday.
Wednesday evening, residents in La Salle, south of Winnipeg, also received notices.
The RM of Macdonald is telling people there that if a controlled release happens, all households along the La Salle River and Elm Creek Channel will be under an evacuation alert, including people in Starbuck and Sanford.
"(We're) a little bit nervous about it," said Mark Resler, a homeowner in La Salle. The province said Thursday the controlled breach is not expected to have adverse effects for the communities of Sanford, Starbuck and La Salle.
About 200 homes in the area surrounding the Portage Diversion were previously given voluntary evacuation notices.
Efforts have been underway to strengthen dikes around the Portage Diversion, which diverts water from the Assiniboine River into Lake Manitoba. Ashton said work has been underway for months to increase capacity on the Assiniboine.
- provincial maps showing area for controlled release -
Residents in the RM of Macdonald area can find more information on the RM's website.
Flood information is also available on the province's website
If the Portage Diversion overflows, it may reach as far as the following areas indicated in orange in this map:
