NLIS 9
September 28, 2005
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
Update on flooding
conditions on west coast - 10:30 a.m
Following is a status report
concerning flooding on the west coast of the province as of 10:30
a.m. Wednesday, September 28. Further updates will continue
throughout the day as information becomes available.
- Premier Williams returned to St.
John's this morning after touring the Stephenville area, and
meeting with town and emergency officials.
- Municipal and Provincial Affairs
Minister Jack Byrne, along with Human Resources Labour and
Employment Minister Joan Burke, remain in Stephenville meeting
with officials and assessing the flood damage in Stephenville
and surrounding areas.
- Minister of Transportation and
Works Tom Rideout has arrived on the west coast and is expected
to tour Reidville, Pynn's Brook, Riverside Drive, Gallants, and
Stephenville today.
- Rainfall amounts for affected
areas as reported by Environment Canada:
- Stephenville 151.4mm
- Rocky Harbour 103.1mm
- Deer Lake 84.2mm
- Daniels Harbour 61.5mm
- Corner Brook 60mm
- Port aux Basques 49.5mm
- Badger 47.7mm
- A State of Emergency remains in
effect for Stephenville and Reidville.
- Schools are closed.
- The Stephenville water system
has been disrupted. Municipal engineers are on site assessing
damages to the town's water supply. The town is in the process
of distributing bottled water.
- The Town of Stephenville
anticipates a need for long term housing for residents who have
incurred significant damage. Human Resources, Labour and
Employment have been in contact with Newfoundland and Labrador
Housing and their local staff to determine housing availability.
- Rocky Harbour has reported minor
damage in the area. Some roads and driveways are washed out and
some basements are flooded. The town's public works people are
evaluating the situation.
- Roads: Motorists are asked not
to use bridges unless absolutely necessary.
- Stephenville - All bridges
on Route 460 running into Stephenville are opened to one
lane.
- The Department of
Transportation and Works is reinforcing bridges at Kippens
and Hansen Highway.
- Repairs to the road in
Reidville are expected to begin today, with a hope to have
it opened to foot traffic and maybe light traffic by the end
of the day.
- The Bridge on Carolina
Avenue at Appalachia Distributors and the Bridge connecting
Minnesota Drive to Massachusetts Drive are closed until
further notice.
- The Bridge at Kin Court is
washed away.
- The road into Kippens is
open.
- The bridge on Hansen Highway
by Keyano's Motel is one lane.
- Minnesota Drive is closed
from Queen Street to Warm Brook Apartments.
- Route 490 is closed from
Minnesota Drive to Arizona Drive.
- White's Road is closed in
Noel's Pond.
- Trans Canada Highway Pynn's
Brook is presently open to one lane, with the hope to have
two lanes opened by lunch time today.
- Trans Canada Highway in the
area of Gallants which was flooded is opened.
- Noel's Pond remains closed.
Media contact: Heather MacLean,
Communications, (709) 729-1983, 690-2498 or heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
2005 209 28
11:20 a.m. |