Dufferin’s RM announced on Sunday that the state of emergency had been lifted as water from the Boyne River poured into its banks. “It’s very uncontrollable right now. “I have lived in this area for a long time and I am along the river and I have never seen it so high,” George Gray, Reeve of RM of Dufferin, told CTV News. “It’s like a wild horse going down the river.” Gray said at least half a dozen homes have been evacuated just west of Carman and more evacuations are possible. He said the western part of the municipality has been hit hardest at the moment, as roads have been washed away and there is a lot of land flooding. Gray does not expect any more rain to hit the area, but he knows they have not yet left the forest. “So much water is coming from the west… and it is coming so fast, we just can’t catch it.” He added that the river has not yet peaked either, noting that the situation is likely to worsen before it improves. The community hall is open to people who have been evacuated and Gray said for those who use the room, they must first register so that RM knows how many people it has. The city of Winnipeg Beach also declared a local emergency to deal with flooding in the area. The mayor said in a statement that the decision was made so that the city council could bring in the equipment and contractors needed to help with infrastructure that could be compromised. Mayor Tony Pimentel described the move as a “precautionary measure”. “At the moment, our public works and utility staff are working closely with our emergency response officer to ensure that we are protected,” Pimentel said in a statement. Pimentel reminds residents to stay away from areas where water is flowing. He said there were no concerns about evacuations and that if things changed, there would be an update. Along with Dufferin’s RM and Winnipeg Beach are the city of Arborg, Gimli’s RM and the Long Plain First Nation. Local emergencies were announced at all locations on Sunday due to ongoing flood problems. Arborg said in a Facebook post that the state of emergency would be in place until May 21, noting that the city was facing floods that needed “immediate action”. “The evacuees are in the process of being alerted and arrangements are being made for accommodation,” the post said. Residents are reminded not to travel through water that is over roads. The Long Plain First Nation said Seniors, people with medical needs and those with inaccessible lanes are being evacuated and will continue to do so until the state of emergency is over. The RM of Gimli said in a Facebook post that the measures taken are precautionary to protect infrastructure and real estate. No evacuation is required at this time. On Saturday, the city of Morden also declared a local state of emergency as it was hit by rain and excessive flooding.
