Manitoba's emergency measures minister said the province is facing one of its worst flood situations in 150 years, even though the forecasted crest of the Red River has been downgraded.

Steve Ashton noted the crest is still several weeks away but other rising waters in the province have already forced nearly 700 people — mostly from the Peguis, Roseau River and Dauphin River First Nations — to head to drier ground.

The Red is the most well-known of Manitoba's rivers — and the one that routinely causes problems in the spring — but it is far from the only body of water causing havoc this year.

Rivers, streams, and creeks across the province are swollen and breaching their banks. As well, overland flooding due to snowmelt that can't be absorbed by a saturated ground is a major issue.

There are 80 provincial highways and hundreds of municipal roads that have been closed and more than a dozen communities have declared states of emergency.

Raging Souris River

The Souris River has been a particular problem. It passes through the communities of Melita, Hartney, Souris and Wawanesa before joining the Assiniboine River southeast of Brandon.

It damaged the town of Souris' famed suspension bridge this week, slamming a massive chunk of ice into a support pole that might result in the tourist attraction being closed for the year.

'Oh I'm just looking out my front door and there's water all around me. I'm literally an island.'—Doug Calverley, business owner in Souris

As well, bus service and school has been cancelled for some students in towns along the river's route.

It rose quickly on Friday morning near Melita, where business-owner Doug Calverley said it went up .13 metres from the night before.

He built up a clay dike to protect his automotive service and repair company, which is suddenly surrounded by water just east of the town.

Most of Melita is dry, protected by a ring dike, but there are businesses like Calverley's that are outside the main dike. He has built his own.

"I've been up pretty well all night watching things around here. Oh I'm just looking out my front door and there's water all around me. I'm literally an island," he said.

The owner of an unprotected motel next to Calverley expects to shut down later on Friday. A guest cottage at the motel flooded overnight and forced out a hunting party.

The Souris River passes through the Manitoba communities of Melita, Hartney, Souris and Wawanesa before joining the Assiniboine River southeast of Brandon.

On Friday morning, the water at the cottage's foundation was nearly a half-metre high, said CBC News reporter Brady Strachan.

"I'm standing at the edge of the Souris River and it's already spilled over its banks for more than a kilometer," Strachan said.

Water has cut off the driveway through the motel property, he said.

"The owner says he's had no calls or help from the municipality and he says it's too late to sandbag. He's shutting down the motel today and trying to find room in other hotels for his customers," Strachan said.

"He's going to try to move as much furniture and electronics out of the room before rising water overtakes his business."

Island farmer along the Red

A farmer in St. Jean Baptiste, like Calverley in Melita, is now on a flood-made island.

However, Ted Sabourin's property along the Red River routinely floods in spring so he is well-prepared with medicine and food.

The 87-year-old has refused to leave his farm anytime during the past 63 years and he's staying put once again.

"[I'll] check our pumps, got medicine for two months, got food for couple weeks," he said, adding that he has also moved his machinery to higher ground.

'[I'll] check our pumps, got medicine for two months, got food for couple weeks.'—Ted Sabourin, farmer

Sabourin thinks this flood will have a bigger impact than the one in 2009 had on the lives of farmers in the area, because it's coming a week later.

That means after the flood and after the cleanup, seeding will also be late.

"My biggest worries right now: will I be able to seed? If we seed that late it will be … half a crop," he said.

And half a crop won't pay the expenses, Sabourin added.

That struggle has chased many farmers out of the area. A decade ago there were 28 farmers near the river, but now there are just 12, he said.

Further up Highway 75, in St. Adolphe, more than 42 residents of a personal care home are being moved to higher ground in preparation for the coming water.

Officials in the Rural Municipality of Richot, which includes St. Adolphe, are mulling the idea of declaring a state of emergency to force evacuations.

The idea was debated by council on Friday but put off for a revisit next week.

Mayor Bob Stefaniuk said people in the area are already under significant stress and declaration of emergency will only escalate their concerns at this point.