Voluntary evacuation of homes and cottages in southern Manitoba remains in effect following flooding, road washouts

A voluntary evacuation of homes and cottages in southern Manitoba near the Ontario border remains in effect several days after a heavy rain event caused flooding and road washouts.

A heavy rain event has caused flooding and road washouts in southern Manitoba. Photo: @NellyonCBC.

Manitoba Sustainable Development (MSD) said in a press release on Monday that the voluntary evacuation of homes and cottages that have been isolated by road washouts remains in effect. The government department recommended the voluntary evacuation on June 25.

A number of regional roads in West Hawk, Falcon Lake and the Whiteshell areas remain flooded or damaged:

• Provincial Road (PR) 312 from the junction of Provincial Trunk Highway (PTH) 44 to the Ontario border remains closed;
• Temporary repairs have been made to the Falcon Lake South Shore Road, allowing for single-lane traffic to pass, and staff are directing traffic through the road, asking people to drive with caution;
• PR 307 in the north Whiteshell area is washed out near the CP tracks between Brereton Lake and Rennie, with motorists advised to travel via Seven Sisters;
• Other roads in the south Whiteshell area have also been affected and could deteriorate quickly, and driving with caution is advised;
• Caddy Lake tunnels are closed; and

• The Mantario Trail remains impassable and the McGillivray Falls Trail has major washouts. Other trails in the area have yet to be assessed.

High water levels are affecting boathouses and docks along shorelines in the south Whiteshell area, MSD added in the release. As well, water may have reached two cottages on Caddy Lake and “efforts have been made to contact the owners.”

Report24CA RT Whiteshell region flooding washes out roads, cuts off cottagers from properties … pic.twitter.com/ei9XfsiHQK

— noel poliarco (@nhowellzki) June 26, 2016

Officials are waiting for the water to recede in many areas before repairs can begin, the release said, noting that it is too early to provide cost estimates until the full extent of the damage is revealed by receding water.

MSD said in a statement on Sunday that “heavy rains and resulting high water” had caused deteriorating road conditions, leaving cottage owners stranded with only boat access until road repairs could be undertaken. “Anyone who has experienced damage is encouraged to contact their insurance providers to determine their coverage,” the statement concluded.

https://twitter.com/AmiraMaidment/status/747608874178359296

About 15 guests at Penguin Resort left Sunday without their vehicles after road washed out on Falcon Lake #cbcmb pic.twitter.com/0x8Ed9ZFgX

— Holly Caruk (@hollycaruk) June 27, 2016

An amazing amount of water fell in Falcon Lake. This is the road leading to the South Shore – it was impassable. pic.twitter.com/nogcdOOlwg

— Brian Hamilton (@afccanada) June 26, 2016

Washed out areas on service roads, Highway 44, crews working on repairing sinkhole at Falcon Lake. pic.twitter.com/aeuZBeZQlL

— Teresa Giesbrecht (@Treizlou) June 26, 2016