May 29, 2010 Heavy Rain Event |
| Please visit the Province of Manitoba 2010 Flood Information Web site for flood bulletins, daily flood reports and information. |
News, Updates and AdvisoriesJune 2, 2010
Winnipeg, June 4, 2010 - The Red River continues to drop and is now at 14.6 feet James Avenue. The water levels in most retention ponds are back within normal range. City crews continue to closely monitor the land drainage and wastewater systems.
With the chance of rain in the forecast throughout the weekend, citizens are reminded to take precautions to protect their property:
- Check and maintain your sump pump and backwater valve regularly.
- Improve drainage around your house so that water flows away from your basement walls (e.g., extend downspouts away from the basement walls, clean debris from eavestroughs regularly, build up the ground around your house).
- Prop appliances (e.g., washers, dryers, freezers) off the ground by putting blocks of wood under them so they don’t get damaged by water.
- Store valuables on a shelf or in plastic totes, not in paper boxes on the floor in the basement.
Caution still urged around bodies of water
The water, or runoff, that flows into creeks, ditches and retention ponds contains pollutants that drain from the street and neighbouring lawns (e.g., gasoline, oils, antifreeze, animal waste, herbicides, fertilizers). For your safety and the safety of your pets, avoid direct body contact with the water and do not let pets drink or swim in the water.
Citizens are urged to use extreme caution around all bodies of water due to high levels and fast moving currents, including rivers, storm water retention ponds, creeks, streams and ditches.
To have your water damaged items collected:
- Put the items at the edge of your property where your garbage is normally collected.
- Phone 311. Tell the customer service representative the pick up is the result of water damage and the approximate number of large items (e.g., tables, couches, mattresses). The collection truck may not be able to collect all the items in one trip. They may have to return later in the day or the next day, so your patience is appreciated.
- Collection is free except for a $20.00 charge for each appliance containing ozone depleting substances (e.g., fridges and freezers).
Cleanup tips:
- Wear protective clothing to avoid direct skin and eye contact, wash your hands frequently, and provide adequate ventilation
- When in doubt, throw it out!
- Pace yourself, take frequent breaks and watch for injury risks; recognize signs of stress and fatigue
- Keep children away from contaminated areas and standing water.
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces and items with household detergent and hot water; and thoroughly dry out all areas and items
Winnipeg, June 3, 2010 - With the additional raising of the floodway gates, the Red River has dropped about 1.3 feet and is now just over 16 feet James Avenue. The water levels in all but a few retention ponds are back within normal range. City crews continue to closely monitor the land drainage and wastewater systems.
With rain forecast for Winnipeg over the coming days, citizens are reminded to take precautions to protect their property:
- Check and maintain your sump pump and backwater valve regularly
- Improve drainage around your house so that water flows away from your basement walls (e.g., extend downspouts away from the basement walls, clean debris from eaves troughs regularly, build up the ground around your house)
- Move any valuable and/or vulnerable items out of your basement to higher ground.
Caution still urged around bodies of water
The water, or runoff, that flows into creeks, ditches and retention ponds contains pollutants that drain from the street and neighbouring lawns (e.g., gasoline, oils, antifreeze, animal waste, herbicides, fertilizers). For your safety and the safety of your pets, avoid direct body contact with the water and do not let pets drink or swim in the water.
Citizens are urged to use extreme caution around all bodies of water due to high levels and fast moving currents, including rivers, storm water retention ponds, creeks, streams and ditches.
To have your water damaged items collected:
- Put the items at the edge of your property where your garbage is normally collected.
- Phone 311. Tell the operator that the pick up is the result of water damage and the approximate number of large items (e.g., tables, couches, mattresses). The collection truck may not be able to collect all the items in one trip. They may have to return later in the day or the next day, so your patience is appreciated.
- Collection is free except for a $20.00 charge for each appliance containing ozone depleting substances (e.g., fridges and freezers)
Cleanup tips:
- Wear protective clothing to avoid direct skin and eye contact, wash your hands frequently, and provide adequate ventilation
- When in doubt, throw it out!
- Pace yourself, take frequent breaks and watch for injury risks; recognize signs of stress and fatigue
- Keep children away from contaminated areas
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces and items with household detergent and hot water; and thoroughly dry out all areas and items
Winnipeg, June 2, 2010 - Ness Avenue at Sturgeon Creek has been re-opened to traffic. City crews continue to diligently monitor the land drainage system and waste water system. Water levels in all retention ponds are high, which is their designed response to a heavy rainstorm. The water level in most ponds is expected to return to normal by the weekend, providing there isn’t any more significant rainfall.
The following information is provided to assist residents in dealing safely with high water levels and property damaged during last weekend’s rainfall.
Caution – creeks, ditches and retention ponds
The water, or runoff, that flows into creeks, ditches and retention ponds contains pollutants that drain from the street and neighbouring lawns (e.g., gasoline, oils, antifreeze, animal waste, herbicides and fertilizers).
For your safety and the safety of your pets, do not:
- Allow your body to come in direct contact with the water
- Let pets drink or swim in the water
Citizens are reminded to use extreme caution around all bodies of water due to high water levels, including rivers, storm water retention ponds, creeks, streams, and ditches.
To have your water damaged items collected:
- Put the items at the edge of your property where your garbage is normally collected
- Phone 311. Tell the operator that the pick up is the result of water damage and the approximate number of large items (e.g., tables, couches, mattresses)
- Collection is free except for a $20.00 charge for each appliance containing ozone depleting substances (e.g., fridges and freezers)
During cleanup:
- Wear protective clothing to avoid direct skin and eye contact, wash your hands frequently, and provide adequate ventilation
- When in doubt, throw it out!
- Pace yourself, take frequent breaks and watch for injury risks; recognize signs of stress and fatigue
- Keep children away from contaminated areas
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces and items with household detergent and hot water; and thoroughly dry out all areas and items
Sandbags continue to be available for pick-up at the Public Works yard located at 1539 Waverley Street (southeast area of the parking lot, beside the recycling bins).
For more information:
Visit the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority online at: www.wrha.mb.ca
Visit: http://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/2010flood/after_flood_booklet.pdf
Winnipeg, June 1, 2010 - Collection crews will begin picking up flood damaged items tonight starting in the south Transcona area. Residents should place their unwanted items at the end of their driveway where their garbage is usually collected.
All residents wanting a pick-up of flood damaged itezms should call 311 and let the customer service representative know the request is the result of basement flooding, and the approximate number of large items (e.g., tables, couches, mattresses). There will be no fee for this pickup service. However, there is a fee for flood damaged appliances containing ozone depleting substances (e.g., fridges and freezers).
Collection crews will be working evenings and weekends to pick up the items as quickly as possible..
WINNIPEG - May 30, 2010 - Two rainstorms passed through the city on Saturday, May 29. An average of 110 millimetres of accumulated rainfall made the weekend storm a once in fifty year rain event. Saturday’s rainfall was preceded by significant rainstorms on Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 24, 2010.
Calls to 311 (as of 12:30 pm today), indicate that 513 homes had basement flooding. These calls came from throughout the city and are not concentrated in one area.
Red River levels rose dramatically over the weekend and are expected to be at 18.5 feet James Avenue by this evening. The river is expected to stay at this level for a few days before it starts to drop to seasonal normals.
High river levels increase the risk of basement flooding across the city. When river levels are high, the normal capacity of the sewer system is reduced. With heavy rains, there is an increased risk of overloaded sewers backing up through house sewer lines and flowing into basements that aren’t protected. Although basement flooding is a risk at any time of the year, the risk increases with high river levels because the sewer system must then rely heavily on pumping stations rather than gravity to carry the rainfall runoff.
Crews are still monitoring all land drainage and sewer pumping facilities and correcting any problems. Temporary pumps have been added where needed.
Water levels in all retention ponds are high, which is their designed response to a heavy rainstorm. Retention ponds in the Whyte Ridge, Waverley West and Waverley Heights area experienced a partial blockage in a drain that leads out of the ponds into the river. City crews removed the debris from a grate yesterday afternoon allowing the ponds to drain as designed.
Bill Watters, Field Service Operations Engineer with the City’s Water and Waste Department, says, “We urge all homeowners to take steps to protect their homes from basement flooding by installing a sewer line backup valve and a sump pit with pump in the basement.”
“Backup valves and sump pump drainage systems should be inspected every year in the early spring to make sure they are functioning properly for the rainy season,” says Watters. He adds, “All residents should ensure drainage is directed away from the home by extending downspouts away from the basement walls and ensuring the earth is built up around the house.”
Property owners are reminded it is against the law to drain sump pump water into the basement floor drain or any other part of the house plumbing system, as it can overtax the sewer system placing their basement, and those of their neighbours, at risk of flooding and damage.
Residents who live along the river should move or secure any structures or equipment near the water’s edge, such as docks, sheds, gazebos, irrigation pumps, and recreational equipment. The rising river level will affect each property owner differently. Each resident will have to determine how the rising river will impact their property, and take the necessary action to protect their belongings.
For more information, homeowners can:
- visit winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/drainageFlooding/basementFlooding.stm
- contact 311 for a free brochure by phone at 311 or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca
Additional information about clean up can be found at:
- http://www.winnipeg.ca/emergWeb/Flood/CleaningUp.stm and
- http://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/2010flood/after_flood_booklet.pdf
- http://www.wrha.mb.ca/healthinfo/a-z/basement.php
Last update:
04.08.2010
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