Perth-Andover residents hold flood recovery meeting

A crowd of more than 300 people showed up at a public meeting in Perth-Andover on Thursday night to discuss how the village will communicate its rebuilding needs to the provincial government.

The northwestern community was hit hard by a massive flood in March, causing widespread damage to many homes, businesses and public buildings along the St. John River.

The Perth-Andover Flood Recovery Committee held the meeting at the Andover Elementary School gymnasium to talk to residents about the villages options and how to move forwardby accessing provincial funds.

Al McPhail, the chairpersonof the committee, is a business owner who had several properties flooded.

McPhail said hes hoping Thursday nights meeting will garner support for the committee so it cantalk directly to the provincial government.

"This committee could speak as the voice for our community, for our common cause, and political powers that be would recognize thatwhen we come knocking on their doors and demanding solutions, it's the entire village talking," McPhail said.

The March 23 flood caused the community of about 1,770 people to declare a state of emergency. The flood level was roughly 1.5 metres higher than the last major flood in 1987.

It destroyed houses and businesses, damaged schools and the hospital, washed out roads, and forced about 500 people to leave their homes.

Relocation details wanted

Premier David Alward has already said the New Brunswick government may consider a relocation plan for residents in the area.

There were residents, such as Jonathon Gagnon, who went to the public meeting Thursday evening to find out more about relocation options.

Gagnons century-old home on the bank of the St. John River was flooded and he'd like to move.

"I can't go through what I went through in the flood. I nearly got stuck in my house it came in so fast, it scared me," Gagnon said.

The New Brunswick government has not outlined how a relocation plan would work for people in the Perth-Andover area.

But it would not be the first time the provincial government has offered to buy the homes of people who lived in flood-prone areas.

The New Brunswick government bought out the homes of 22 people following a series of floods across the province in 2010.

The 22 homes, which were damaged beyond repair, met specified criteria set out by the government in the disaster financial assistance program.