Severe flooding and widespread damage have prompted a local state of emergency, evacuations and road closures.
About 50 roads are currently closed across parts of Richmond County, Inverness and Victoria Counties, according to the latest statement from the Town of Port Hawkesbury.
They say staff are now transitioning to repairs where they can, including driveways and washed-out road shoulders.
Officials are also “monitoring conditions and maintaining operations on backup power at Landrie Lake and the Water Treatment Plant.”
The Emergency Manage Department is advising everyone to stay off the roads unless travel is essential for health, safety or emergency purposes.
A post on social media says, “Do not drive through flood waters or around barricades.”
Residents should continue to monitor social media, 511 for road closures, and official government sources for updates.
More rain coming
The flooding could still get worse, according to Environment Canada operational Meteorologist Samantha Roach.
Their preliminary totals from the official monitoring station in Port Hawkesbury show 118mm has already fallen as of Saturday afternoon.
Other unofficial measuring sources, like data collected in some people’s backyards and sent to Environment Canada, show even more than that in other parts of Cape Breton: 219mm at St. George’s Channel; 178.6mm in Boisdale Hills; 230.1mm in Sampsonville.
More rain will continue into Sunday morning, but then it will taper off, and there should just be some showers after that, says Roach.
Overall, another 40 to 60mm could fall in that time. That is why there are still orange level weather warnings in place, says Roach.
“The possibility exists that there could be some more flooding with the leftover rainfall,” says Roach.
She says we have had quite a bit of rain in the last few weeks, and the ground is already saturated from the rain overnight Friday, which means the ground cannot easily absorb what is left to come.
“Stay inside and delay any travel, if you can. Obviously, if there’s any water on the roads, please do not try to drive through it, and just stay safe.”
Premier Tim Houston visits Command Centre
A command centre was set up at 10:30 in the morning at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, with the Regional Emergency Management Organization involved, alongside provincial and municipal staff, Nova Scotia Power, and EHS. Additional EHS units have also been deployed to the area.
The Premier spent time with Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau and other officials on Saturday at the centre, discussing the extensive damage across Cape Breton.
Crews are continuing to assess damage, but the full extent won’t be known until floodwaters recede and the rain stops falling.
“We stand ready to deploy the Nova Scotia Guard when it is determined how they can best help. Thank you to members who have already reached out ready to assist. Once this storm has passed, we will pull crews and equipment where needed from other areas of the province to repair roads and infrastructure as fast as we can,” Houston stated in a social media post.
He added that he remains in regular contact with officials across Cape Breton, the Minister of Emergency Management, and the Minister of Public Works.
Supports available
A comfort centre has been established, as well. You can visit St. George’s Channel Hall, the Riverdale Community Centre in Lower River Inhabitants.
D’Escousse Civic Improvement Hall has also been added as a comfort centre.
There you can charge devices, stay warm, and find support as the county works through this emergency.
Starting Sunday morning at 8 a.m., there will be a support line available for residents to have a central point of contact where they can report non-emergency issues and concerns related to the situation. It will close at 8 p.m., according to a joint statement for Western Cape Breton.
Anyone in the Inverness, Victoria and Richmond Counties, or the Town of Port Hawkesbury, can use the line. If no one picks up, leave a voicemail and a municipal representative will call back.
Emergencies should still be reported with 911.
More hours of operation will be announced when confirmed, the town says.
Road Closures
Emergency Management says in a social media post that conditions can change quickly. Your best bet is to stay off the roads, but if you have to travel, call 511 and check on the road conditions.
Never drive through flood-covered roads and turn around if you run into any dangerous spots or washouts.
In a social media post, MLA Greg Morrow says crews will attempt to get traffic moving again on Highway 344 in Steep Creek on Sunday morning by installing a new culvert. After that, he says they will try and move to Sand Point and Carr Road to repair that area.
Prince Street in Port Hawkesbury, between MacSween and Embree, is closed to let Nova Scotia Power crews remove a tree. And Sydeny Road in the town is also closed between Granville Street and Bernard because of asphalt damage.
Part of Highway 104 from Basin Road to Sporting MTN, between exit 45 and 47, is closed as well. That is a large part of the highway made inaccessible because of flooding.
Other washouts, according to MLA Trevor Boudreau, include:
- Flooding on HWY-104 from HWY-320 (km 303) to HWY-4 (km 313). All lanes closed.
- Richmond Co: Highway 104 at Exit 46 to Thibeauville (DM 303-313) is closed to all traffic due to flooding until further notice. Please avoid area.
- Richmond County: Please be advised that Matthews Rd is closed due to a washout.
- Richmond County: Please be advised that Morrison Rd and Oban Rd in Oban are closed due to flooding and washouts in the area.
- Flooding on HWY-4 Both Directions Near Northside River Bourgeois Rd (km 319). All lanes closed.
- Closure on Big Brook Rd Both Directions Near Murray Rd. All lanes closed.
- Road Closure on Orangedale Rd Both Directions Near Ferguson Point Rd (km 44). All lanes closed.
- Road Closure on Orangedale Rd Both Directions Near Cameron Rd. All lanes closed.
- Englishtown, Service Suspended (weather).
- Little Narrows, Service Suspended (weather).
- Road Closure on W Bay Rd Both Directions Near Hedgerow Ln. All lanes closed.
- Road Closure on HWY-223 Both Directions from Bras D’Or Lake (km 58) to Grand Narrows Dr. All lanes closed.
Power outages
Over 5,000 residents in Port Hawkesbury and surrounding areas had lost power at the peak of the power outages on Saturday morning.
As of about 7 p.m., many of those outages have been restored. But some scattered outages are still being reported in the Quad counties.
Some Richmond County residents left isolated due to flooding and washouts
Residents in parts of Richmond County remain cut off by multiple road washouts following heavy rainfall, with some unable to travel in either direction from their homes.
Wendy Abbott says she and her neighbours cannot leave the area by vehicle because roads on both sides of them have been washed out.
“We can get out of the yard, but we can’t drive down the road,” Abbott told our newsroom.
She says three washouts were found in the area, including one on the St. Peter’s side of the community, and another reported near the Luxury Domes property.
Abbott, who manages the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter’s, says the situation is very frustrating.
“Today, we have a wedding at work, so I’m a little on the stressed side,” she said. “I have full confidence in the staff that I have there that are going to carry it out, but I would have liked to be there.”
Some employees were able to reach the inn by taking lengthy detours through River Bourgeois, where Abbott says there have also been reports of washouts and damaged roadways.
Despite the transportation challenges, Abbott says luckily her home still has power, and they have access to a generator if needed.
For now, she says her family has enough groceries and supplies to get by.
“We’re lucky. We have lots of groceries and the staples, milk and bread,” Abbott said.
She added that many neighbours appear to be in a similar position as they wait for crews to repair the damaged roads and restore access to the area.
