Swan River declares local emergency after 148 millimeters of Grêle
Swan River declared a local emergency Tuesday morning after grêle and flooding that mayor Lance Jacobson said hit several parts of the city with unprecedented force. Nearly 150 people had to leave their homes as water spread across the Swan Valley in western Manitoba.
The city moved to unlock extra resources and coordination with provincial agencies. Jacobson said, "We have had three or four areas of the city that started experiencing flooding in places where we had never seen water in living memory."
Swan River and Minitonas
Up to 148 millimeters of rain fell in a few hours overnight from Sunday to Monday, triggering surface flooding, washing out roads and isolating several communities. Volunteers worked late into the night to build sandbag dikes around businesses in the industrial park and in several residential neighborhoods.
Some businesses reported water seepage, and several residents were dealing with flooded basements. No official evacuation order was issued inside the city limits, but rural properties nearby remained isolated after roads were washed out.
Route 10 Collapse
A section of Route 10 between Swan River and Minitonas gave way Tuesday morning, adding to travel problems in the area. In Minitonas, residents lost electricity, cell service and road access for part of the crisis.
About 450 Hydro-Manitoba customers were still without power Tuesday, mainly in Minitonas and surrounding areas. Hydro-Manitoba said its crews were continuing restoration work.
Extreme Risk Level
Environment Canada storm forecaster Keane Kokolsky said the region had moved to the highest extreme risk level for severe weather, with violent weather possible. Jacobson called the flooding unprecedented and said, "It's completely unprecedented. It's hard to believe."
For residents and businesses in Swan River, the immediate issue is access: flooded homes, cut roads and lingering power outages remain the practical problem while crews work to reopen routes and restore service.
