'There's devastation out here': Whiteshell cottagers, residents struggle to battle rising waters
Evacuation orders are now in effect for northern parts of Whiteshell Provincial Park as flooding impacts hundreds of properties.
Amy Vereb, the owner of Otter Falls Resort, has been working to protect her property from the rising waters. She has been sandbagging and has put up a tiger dike which has failed to keep the flood waters at bay.
"It's gone over. It's breached over in the campground. It was holding back water up to about three days ago, and then just too much water started coming in," Vereb said.
Vereb said this is the worst flooding she has seen in the area, and it is not over yet. The area is expecting another two feet of water in the next 10 days, she said.
"There are people out here who are devastated. Their cabins are gone and that's all they ever had," Vereb said. "It isn’t just cottage country for people in the summer time and the spring time to come and enjoy. This is people's lives out here."
IN PICTURES: 'Overwhelming' flood in the Whiteshell Provincial Park
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, along with government officials, took an aerial tour of the Whiteshell Provincial Park on Tuesday as the area deals with significant floodwaters.
Stefanson said they flew over Caddy Lake, West Hawk Lake, and Falcon Lake and said several areas have been completely washed out, adding several homes have been impacted.
"There's so much water out there, it's overwhelming," said Stefanson. "Our thoughts go out to those who have been negatively impacted."
Stefanson said the area is still seeing water levels rise.
"We have water coming from the south of us, we’ve got water now coming from the east of us. So we're surrounded by it," Stefanson said. "It's nothing new to Manitobans, I think we've dealt with floods in the past, but what is different is that it is coming from all angles."
With a state of local emergency declared in the Betula Lake area late last week, the province has ordered the evacuation in the northern area of the park – including Sylvia, Eleanor, Nutimik, and Betula Lakes, along with Otter Falls, Barrier Bay.
A spokesperson for the province said, while it doesn't track the exact number of people affected by the evacuation orders, there are about 600 cottages and 500 campsites impacted.
Manitoba's Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Doyle Piwniuk said provincial assessments need to be done before determining what supports will be offered to those impacted by the flood.
"We are in response mode right now. We want to make sure everyone is safe, everyone protects their properties as much as possible," Piwniuk said.
NDP Leader Wab Kinew was also part of the flyover and said what he saw was striking.
"Cottages, homes, businesses, lodges being affected, both by the floodwater and the evacuation orders. Our hearts go out to everyone who is being affected. There is just so much water out there right now," said Kinew.
High water levels are washing out highway 307 and leading to several hundred residents being evacuated from the area just north east of Winnipeg, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Kinew also acknowledged the work being done by provincial workers, along with emergency crews, to help the area deal with the flooding, saying stepping up in tough times is what makes Manitobans.
Vereb said her resort is now closed due to the evacuation orders.
"There's devastation out here. We need help," she said. "We're being shut down now but when this is all over, there is going to be a big mess to clean up and there's not going to be a Whiteshell to come to this summer if we don't clean up the mess after this is all done."
Her two kids are going to stay with family, while she and her husband stay behind in an effort to save their property.
-with files from CTV's Taylor Brock
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.