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Brandon Declares State of Emergency as Assiniboine River Rises

The declaration unlocks provincial equipment and a small Canadian Armed Forces logistics team to reinforce dikes ahead of a forecast river peak.

Overview

  • The City of Brandon declared a state of emergency on Sunday and fully activated its emergency operations centre while saying there are no evacuation orders in place at this time.
  • City crews are adding roughly 60 centimetres of height to dikes in key locations and have built temporary dike closures to guard against waves, wind and sudden surges.
  • A July 4 forecast hydrograph projects the Assiniboine River will keep rising toward a peak around July 12 at about 2.5 metres above bankful capacity.
  • Manitoba has offered equipment such as tube dams and sandbags and the federal government has approved assistance that includes a small Canadian Armed Forces team to help with logistics and resource coordination.
  • Nearby communities in the Parkland region, including Swan River, have seen worse damage with evacuations and heavy cleanup needs, and officials warn that continued rain or a higher-than-expected peak could force tougher measures for residents and road access.