N.B. water levels to remain above flood stage for several days

Water levels are expected to start dropping over the next few days along the St. John River in New Brunswick, but it still could be days before theyfall below flood stage.

According to the most recent five-day forecast from River Watch, the communities of Fredericton, Maugerville and Sheffield will see slight increases in water levels today and tomorrow, as rain from earlierin the weekend makes its way through the river system.

Fredericton and Maugervilleareexpected to be the only communitiesin the lower St. John River basin to drop below flood stage by Friday.

"As we go down the river it's very much a case of the levels staying the same or slight fluctuations up and down and that will persist for several more days," said GregMacCallum, the provincial EMO director.

"It's a slow thing to get this much water out of the basin."

MacCallum said people who left their homes should ensure with officials that it's safe to return before going back.

"Safety first always, before you go back into your properties."

The provincial government is also advising people to use caution when pumping out basements. The water levels inside should not be more than a foot lower thanthe outside water level or it could cause structural damage.

Registration numbers levelling off, Red Cross says

The Saint John reception centre is moving from theCarleton Community Centre at 120 Market PlacetoLoch Lomond Place at 120 MacDonald St. tomorrow morning.

Bill Lawlor, provincial director of the Red Cross, said the change inlocation is a way to consolidate, since the Red Cross office and warehouse are already in Loch Lomond Place.

"There hasn't been a lot of foot traffic come into that particular reception centre [at the Carleton Community Centre]."

An empty unit was given to the Red Cross to useby the landlord at no cost while the need for the reception centre exists.

The number of evacuees registered with the Red Cross has started to level off. As of this morning there are 437households and 1,095 individuals, provincial directorBill Lawlor said.

"There's very little change from yesterday."

He said this is reflective of stabilizing and receding water levels, but said the Red Cross is prepared for an uptake as residents who had decided to stay in their homes run low on resources, since water levels aren't expected to drop below flood stage for some time.

What the 2019 New Brunswick flood looked like on Friday:

How the 2019 New Brunswick flood looks on Friday

5 years ago

Duration 1:01

This is how the 2019 New Brunswick flood looks on Friday in Grand Lake and along the St. John and Kennebecaisis Rivers.

"There often becomes that tipping point of, whether it's a combination of exhaustion or lack of resources people tend to require some support as the days and weeks continue," Lawlor said.

Even with river levels dropping, there are still many houses surrounded by water or cut off due to water over roads.

Clean up kits available Monday

Over 260 households have receivedsome sort of emergency assistance from the Red Cross, Lawlor said, whether that is in the form of emergency accommodations, supplying food and medicines, or both.

Lawlor also said free flood cleanup kits will begin to be availabletomorrow at Red Cross reception centres. The kits can also be picked up at the Maugerville Community Centre.

He said the Red Cross is expecting the level of damage and financial impact to be just as bad or worse than last year's flood.

"These are [homeowners]who have spent the last year going through the repair and rebuild process and have either just finished ornot yet finished, only to be faced with flooding again."