State of local emergency declared in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Betula Lake area to be evacuated
The province has declared a state of local emergency within the Whiteshell Provincial Park, and says residents in the Betula Lake area should be prepared to evacuate.
On Friday evening, the province declared the local state of emergency within the park, saying rapidly rising water levels have created dangerous conditions and pose a significant risk to the public's safety.
"Manitobans should not travel into the Whiteshell Provincial Park area. Many highways are flooded, making travel conditions treacherous," the province said.
It has ordered the evacuation of Whiteshell Provincial Park’s Betula Lake area, including all cottage subdivisions, commercial area, group use, day use, recreational and picnic areas, playgrounds, trails and beaches.
The province warned residents in areas near Betula Lake should be prepared to evacuate due to rapidly rising water levels.
On May 20, 2022, Manitoba Parks ordered the evacuation of Whiteshell Provincial Park’s Betula Lake area due to flooding in the area. (Image Source: Province of Manitoba)
"This is something like we have almost never seen before," Ian Baragar, president of the Whiteshell Cottagers’ Association, told CTV News Friday night. "We do have an emergency that is happening, the waters are continuing to rise."
While Baragar didn't have a total number of cottages in the Betula Lake area, he said there are roughly 4,000 cottages throughout the Whiteshell area. He said it is not just rainwater that is putting them at risk – water from the whole Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario is flowing into the province and narrows in the Whiteshell area.
"There is not a lot we can do, a lot of that's rainwater. The dams have limited amount of control, they've done all they can, and that water is going to rise," he said.
In a post on Facebook, the Whiteshell Cottagers’ Association said the situation is getting desperate in Barrier Bay where many structures are compromised, or close to it.
The Whiteshell Cottagers’ Association said the situation is getting desperate in Barrier Bay where many structures are compromised, or close to it. (Source: Whitshell Cottagers Association/Facebook)
"It's affecting infrastructure. It's affecting cottages and people have been sandbagging. We've done all we can with sandbagging, but now we're into road closures as well."
Baragar said with the rising water, people in Nutimik Lake that are at risk of being cut off due to road closures.
"That's a dangerous situation to be in," he said, saying the Lake is 10 feet higher than it was last year.
Whiteshell Cottagers Association previously told CTV News provincial staff had been sandbagging properties at risk of flood waters.
The province said anyone looking to visit the park should check with Manitoba 511 for road closures before heading into the park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.