Assiniboine River Levelling off in Brandon

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group has received information from the Province of Manitoba indicating that the Assiniboine River’s peak in Brandon has likely passed following heavy rainstorms earlier this week.

As of 3 p.m. today, the Assiniboine River in Brandon was recorded at a level of 1,174.07 feet above sea level, measured at First Street. River levels are updated daily on the City of Brandon’s Open Government web portal at http://opengov.brandon.ca/catalog.php?dataset=riverlevel.

Through this coming weekend, City of Brandon Emergency Response Control Group members will continue to monitor the potential for flash flooding in the Assiniboine River Valley should the Rivers Dam upstream of Brandon fail. Provincial projections have placed worst-case peak levels in Brandon should the Rivers Dam fail at levels similar to those seen during the spring flood of 2011, which was approximately 1,183 feet above sea level, measured at First Street. This is a level that the City of Brandon’s dike system can handle; however, contingency plans remain in place should low-lying areas along the Assiniboine River in Brandon need to evacuate.

It is important to note that an evacuation of these areas has NOT been ordered at this time. However, preparation notices were issued earlier this week to several hundred homes and several dozen businesses in the area between 1st Street North and 26th Street North, from Stickney Avenue all the way north to Galbraith Crescent, to ensure preparedness IF flash flooding occurs.

In the event of an evacuation order, residents will be notified as follows:

–             The City of Brandon’s emergency alerting siren

–             Local radio stations

–             The City of Brandon website (www.brandon.ca)

–             City of Brandon Facebook and Twitter

–             In-person door-to-door visitations

A reminder that City of Brandon Parks & Recreation Services has CLOSED PUBLIC ACCESS to Queen Elizabeth Park and Dinsdale Park as a public safety measure. All public are asked to respect the barricades and signage that have been put in place in these greenspaces and are further asked to stay away from the Assiniboine River and STAY OFF of the dike infrastructure during this time.

Additional information on Assiniboine River levels and any changes in the status of potential flash flooding in the Assiniboine River Valley will be made available at www.brandon.ca as it is confirmed.

(City of Brandon Media Release)