More than 200 homes issued evacuation notices in RM of Ritchot
More than 200 homes in the RM of Ritchot have been issued evacuation notices due to rising waters.
Many residents along Highway 200 are dealing with flooding on their properties. Pauline LaPalme is one of them. She needs to use a large truck to get across her flooded driveway in order to get home.
"There's just one part that's really, really deep," she said. "It's about halfway between these trees here and the spruce trees where it gets a little bit deeper, and that's the part that's a little bit more worrisome."
The municipality had declared a state of local emergency in April due to rising flood waters, and in an update Friday evening, issued evacuation notices to 231 homes within the community.
Mayor Chris Ewen said the evacuations are mainly due to homes losing access.
"We've only seen one home go underwater, and that was because the structural dike was not put up in time, but other than that it's 99 per cent because the road the infrastructure in front of the home is underwater," Ewen said.
He noted new evacuation notices are still going out daily in the area, as the river has not crested yet and bad weather is making conditions worse.
"We're still seeing a bit of a rise as of my understanding the wind did a lot of damage, and it created about a foot rise temporarily, so that's always something that we had to take into factor yesterday," Ewen said.
According to Ewen, there are currently about 300 people who have decided to leave their homes.
"With the flood situation, you know if you have everything, that checklist in place, you've got everything to last you for a couple of weeks and you feel comfortable staying in your home, by all means, that's your prerogative," added Ewen.
For residents planning to battle the floodwaters, the municipality said it has issued 140,000 sandbags to residents and has a stockpile of 240,000 sandbags which are available for free delivery.
While the municipality won't know the total cost of damages until the water recedes, Ewen estimates it's already up to several hundred thousand dollars.
"There's roads and infrastructure that's washed out. There's debris that needs to be cleaned up, you know, sandbag damage possibly from having the weight of the sandbags on certain areas or regions of land that could wash out. There's a lot, and it's going take some time to fix it," he said.
As for LaPalme, she's grateful she is only dealing with slight erosion on her driveway, as her neighbours have been forced to use boats.
"I feel bad for them because, especially down Prefontaine Road here, those people have been boating already for probably a week and a half, two weeks, boating their kids to the end of the driveway to catch the bus, boating to go to work."
More information about the flood measures in the municipality can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.