FORT FRANCES – For weeks, flood watches and flood warnings have engulfed the Municipality of Fort Frances as the spillways continue to pump tons of litres of water out of the Rainy River.
Between the excessive rainfalls and the water that comes from the east from the Turtle Rivers area and flows into the Rainy River, the water is breaching the town on all fronts.
“We have no beach left at all,” said Mayor June Caul. “From the southern end and almost right to the north end of the property now, and we figure in a week it’s probably going to breach the rest of the beach on the north side.”
Caul also stated that the retaining wall built-in 2014 is now leaking on the road and causing the whole route to be flooded.
The highest water level recorded in Fort Frances was in 1950. The water rose to 339.2 metres. In 2014, the highest water level was 338.74 metres, and now the water level is at 338.827 metres. Every day, the water levels are rising 1.94 inches of water daily.
With sandbags strategically positioned along the banks where La Place Rendez-Vous hotel and restaurant and Idylwild Dr. up to Couchiching First Nation, the water slowly creeps up and shows no signs of stopping.Road closure has been issued to Front Street between Minnie Avenue and Williams Avenue, Calder Drive from the camping area around the loop by Vanjura Ball Diamond, and the Sorting Gap Marina Gas Docks.“The upper Rainy River has almost breached the La Verendrye Parkway between Minnie and Williams today. A portion of Front Street is closed because storm sewers have backed up onto the road with river water,” Douglas Judson, Fort Frances councillor, said in a tweet.
Point Park has exceeded the sandbags placed along the river, where volunteers and crew are pilling more sandbags on top.
Community efforts are taking place as Fort Frances High School students are doing their part to help bag sand.
“Fort Frances High School students have been assisting with municipal sandbagging efforts as our community continues to face the risk of rising floodwaters. Very proud of their volunteerism! Well done,” Judson also tweeted.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has activated Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians for residents affected by the flood. For more eligibility information, go to the province's website.
