Moncton cleans up after weekend flooding
Saint John streets closed by water
Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 | 2:05 PM AT
CBC News
The island in Centennial Park's pond in Moncton was swamped after the weekend rainfall. (CBC) City crews and some residents of Moncton were busy cleaning up Monday after a weekend storm that dropped 49 millimetres of rain.
There was flooding on streets, in basements and at Centennial Park.
Don Williams, foreman with Moncton City Works, said Monday that heavy rain is worse than heavy snow.
"Flooding is very destructive. It really damages people's homes, it really sets their life upside down. So, it’s a very serious issue and you know I certainly take it seriously," he said.
"I’m concerned that we‘ve had a few instances in the past several months and I’m not happy about it at all. At the same time, it’s a big challenge for us to get to the bottom of this – why is this happening and why is it happening now."
The gusty winds blew leaves off the trees, he said, clogging many of the storm drains.
Williams said crews had cleared drains, and everything was under control by Sunday afternoon.
Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said independent engineers have been hired to review what’s going on underground in the city.
"No doubt it was a tough weekend; you know, a difficult weather situation. But, you know, we have to be able to deal with that. We’re in the Maritimes and we’ve got to deal with snow, and rain and wind," he said.
Moncton homeowner Gary Cowper would agree with that assessment – he woke up Sunday morning to find 127 millimetres of water in his basement.
He had just spent seven weeks cleaning up after about 432 mm of water flooded his basement in the wake of post-tropical storm Danny.
Cowper had laid new tile on Saturday, and the painting was done. He had been hoping to move his new furniture into his basement Monday.
Now, he and his family are back to scratch.
"It just was standing water in front of our house. Literally, it was about a foot above the curb and it flowed right through towards my house. My whole front yard was a river," he said.
"I’ll admit it, it is a low-lying house, but it’s also been here for 34 years."
LeBlanc is asking anyone who experienced flooding over the weekend to contact the city so officials can track problem areas.
Avoid bad roads, drivers warned
Many roads around Saint John were still under water Monday after 116 mm of rain fell in 24 hours over the weekend.
The city urged motorists to avoid using water-covered or closed roads because their vehicles or adjacent properties could be damaged.
Dozens of homes and businesses in Saint John were flooded and several streets had to be closed to traffic.
Monday morning, several major routes were still closed:
- Rothesay Avenue from Tim Street to Todd Street .
- Rothesay Road Underpass.
- Rothesay Avenue Exit off the McKay Highway.
- Ashburn Road from Rothesay Road to Foster Thurston Drive.
- McAllister Drive from Golden Grove Road to Majors Brook Drive.
- Golden Grove Road at Parkhill Drive.
Several streets in the Glen Falls neighbourhood also were under water, including:
- Dutch Garden Road.
- Ashton Place.
- Simpson Drive from Golden Grove to Broadway Avenue.
- Broadway Avenue (lower end).
- Todd Street.
- Holland Street.
- Walter Street.
