MANITOBA: A First Nation community in western Manitoba has declared a state of emergency after severe flooding caused widespread disruption and heightened safety concerns. Local leaders have called on the federal government to provide urgent assistance, warning that rising water levels are threatening homes, infrastructure, and essential services.
Community officials said the flooding has forced emergency measures and increased the need for immediate resources to protect residents and support recovery efforts. They stressed that federal intervention is crucial to address the growing crisis and help affected families cope with the disaster.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as emergency response teams work to minimize damage and ensure the safety of residents.
Jacobson said he surveyed damage Wednesday and spent time with community members, some of whom have lost their homes.
“It just tears you apart to see the damage that this river can do,” he said. “I could never imagine that this would have ever happened. It’s horrible, and it’s going to take some time to rebuild.”
The town’s drinking water system has so far held up to the stress, Jacobson said, as have its wastewater infrastructure and bridges. But roads and highways outside the community are washed out, and provincial transport officials will have to build them up again, he said.
Swan River situation ‘quite bleak’
Parts of the town of Swan River are under a mandatory evacuation order and highway access is cut off. That means fuel and food may need to be airlifted in to the town’s more than 5000 residents, Mayor Lance Jacobson said Thursday.
“It’s quite bleak, actually,” he said of the overall situation.
Since a severe weather system brought thunderstorms to the area Monday night, “the rain hasn’t stopped,” he said, adding to problems the community was already dealing with after major flooding in early june.
“In my lifetime we’ve never seen this amount of water that moved onto the Swan River,” said Jacobson, estimating the river’s level has risen about three metres above normal.
