Brandon declares state of emergency as overflowing Assiniboine River forecast to continue to rise

The City of Brandon has declared a state of emergency, with the Assiniboine River spilling its banks days ahead of a forecast flood peak on July 12.

The city is adding height to its dikes in some places to raise them two feet above the forecast peak water level, Mayor Jeff Fawcett said in an interview Saturday evening after council declared the state of emergency.

“We’re going to have to get things done quickly, just to make sure, in case worst case scenarios show up,” he said.

“If we were gamblers, we might say, ‘Oh, you know what? I think we’re close. Let’s hold our breath,’ but we’re not going to gamble with our public.”

Rainfall in western Manitoba has caused extensive flooding in the region, and the river is already in moderate flood stage, with water forecast to rise to about 2.5 metres above bankful capacity, according to an Assiniboine River forecast hydrograph dated July 4.

Brandon, which is about 200 kilometres west of Winnipeg, already has a temporary dike on Grand Valley Road west of 18th Street N. and will likely add one on Conservation Drive, which leads down to the city’s Riverbank Discovery Centre.

Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure said in an emailed statement it is working with Brandon officials, including on the 18th Street dike, to prepare for higher water levels.

The province will provide equipment such as tube dams and sandbags, if needed, the statement said.

Fawcett said this is the third time he’s been through a state of emergency due to river levels.

“We have very good dike infrastructure, but we’re going to need to access private sector and such to assist in trying to just do some work in the next few days to make sure that we’re good when that peak hits.”

The city is adding to the top of its dikes in some places to make sure they’re 60 centimetres above the forecast flood level, he said.

That extra 60 centimetres is in case of waves, wind or a sudden surge of water, he explained.

People shouldn’t panic but they should respect the riverbank and stay away from the dikes, Fawcett said.

The city also asks that people respect all barricades, closures and warning signs, avoid driving or walking through flooded areas and to monitor the City of Brandon website and social media pages for updates.

Despite the state of emergency, the city is doing better than flooded parts of the Parkland region, he said.

Swan River just lifted a mandatory evacuation order on Saturday that was issued Wednesday as the region north of Brandon dealt with extensive flooding.

“We have lots of concerns for our neighbours in those areas, and our state of emergency is to do everything we can to make sure that we prevent that,” Fawcett said.

“We are … trying to make sure that the focus can remain on doing the work in the other regions that do need assistance right now.”