Status Report - Flooding in Town of Stephenville

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and minister responsible for the province�s Emergency Measures Organization, issued a status report on the flooding situation in the Town of Stephenville.

"Heavy rains in the Stephenville/Port au Port Peninsula areas have brought about serious flooding with the accumulation of approximately 107 mm of rain, and a further 40 mm expected today," stated Minister Byrne. "The Emergency Measures Organization in St. John's has activated the province's emergency operations centre and is coordinating activities relating to the response effort with the various towns affected. Stephenville has declared a state of emergency, and the town has activated an emergency operations centre. This is a very serious situation which the province is closely monitoring, and we are taking every step to ensure that the communities and residents are protected."

Minister Byrne along with MHA for the District of Stephenville and Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment Joan Burke will be traveling to the affected areas this afternoon to assess the situation first-hand. Premier Williams will also be touring the affected areas late this afternoon.

Details available on the flooding are as follows:

• Numerous roads and bridges have been flooded, and the RCMP has closed affected roads in the area. RCMP advises that the following roads have been affected: Gull Pond to Stephenville closed, both bridges at Blanche and Cole Brooks, traffic is down to one lane at the Romane Bridge; Brook Street is closed, water is over the Trans Canada Highway 5 km east of Gallants and down to one lane; road into Gallants is closed; Trans Canada Highway is closed near Pynn's Brook east of Corner Brook; Route 460 closed at Gooden's Brook bridge as well at Kippens and Noels Pond.
• Severe damage has been reported in Stephenville, as well as the communities of Noels Pond and Black Duck Siding.
• The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment has set-up a reception centre and shelter in the Armory, and is coordinating temporary accommodations and other assistance. The department is also assisting the Red Cross with the registration of evacuees.
• Ground search and rescue and the fire department are using boats and rafts to ferry people to safe ground, and have evacuated approximately 80 houses.
• The Kippens Bridge has been closed, and the Department of Transportation and Works is in the process of reinforcing the bridge.

Update on services to the area:

• The Municipal and School Board Elections for the area have been postponed until further notice.
• Services offered by the Western Regional Integrated Health Authority will be provided on an emergency basis only. All regularly scheduled services are cancelled for today. Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital remains open and will be providing essential services to the people of the Stephenville area.
• The Human Resources, Labour and Employment office in Stephenville has been closed. Income support clients needing services should call the regular contact number 1- 866-417-4753.

Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to remain in their homes, and not attempt to travel as road conditions are unstable and may be unsafe. Those requiring emergency assistance in Stephenville can contact Emergency Measures (Town Hall) at (709) 643-8380, and those in surrounding areas can contact the RCMP at (709) 643-2118.

"I want to assure residents that the province is prepared to help in any way we can during this extremely difficult crisis," added Minister Byrne. "We will continue to issue updates on the situation as it unfolds."

Media contact: Heather MacLean, Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498 or heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca

2005 09 27                          2:40 p.m.