New Brunswick spring flood efforts beginning to move from response to recovery
Posted April 30, 2019 11:40 am.
FREDERICTON — The director of New Brunswick’s Emergency Measures Organization says the response to this year’s spring flooding is slowly transforming into a recovery operation.
Greg MacCallum says water levels along most of the Saint John River are making a slow but steady decline.
However, he says areas between Jemseg and Saint John — along the river’s southern reaches — are expected to remain at or above flood stage until Saturday.
The Transportation Department reports 82 roads remain closed, but many of them are expected to reopen in the next few days.
The Trans-Canada Highway remains closed between Oromocto and Riverglade, but local residents in Gagetown and Petitcodiac are being allowed to use the highway to get to their homes.
A spokesman says the entire highway could be reopened this week.
About 240 soldiers had been helping with the flood response, but that number is now down to 150, and Lt.-Col. Sean French says more will head back to Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in the coming days.
The public is being advised to boil any well water that may have been contaminated by floodwaters.
The Canadian Press
