Flood water is a hazard to health and extremely dangerous when moving. Flooding can occur at any time of the year and can be due to many causes from heavy rainfall and blocked drains to burst water mains, tidal ingress and burst river banks. ... Whatever the cause, flood water presents a general hazard to health.
The Manitoba Government is predicting major flooding this spring along the Red River. On Thursday, February 28th a Sustainable Development Minister Ron Schuler issued the first flood forecast of the year.
The communities along the river banks know very well how dangerous floods could be. From the destruction power of moving water, that destroys houses and vehicles, to a deadly danger for people, who get caught by the stream. The biggest area of concern is the Red River and Highway 75, which leads from Winnipeg to the USA border.
Low-lying farmlands and some private households in some areas are expected to be temporarily flooded, and some sections on roads such as Highway 75, the main route connecting Winnipeg to the United States border, will likely have to be closed.
Ice jams caused severe flooding along the Red River north of Winnipeg in 2009, which prompted evacuations. The government later forced dozens of homeowners on Crown land to relocate.
The floods like this can be very dangerous and force authorities to close roads, highways, and bridges. In situations like this citizen`s and resident`s safety is a top priority for the Federal Government.
Schuler says the government will be communicating with affected municipalities and First Nations to make sure they have the things that they need such as sandbags and access to sand as needed. He adds they will plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Such forecasts are not really good news for Winnipeggers who have to travel to the US for work or had planned a road trip in the Springtime. You might consider alternative routes to get to your destination, just in case the flood will get the roads closed.