Minden Hills is still under a state of emergency following widespread flooding over the weekend. Reeve Brent Devolin made the declaration on Saturday, saying the water level has risen six feet in six days.
And, he says they are about 17 cm away from 2013 levels. Devolin says the river hasn’t crested yet, but it still could within the next couple of days.
Devolin says by declaring a state of emergency, Minden residents are able to apply for some financial relief from the province. Homeowners are eligible for cash for primary property damage, as well as food and lodging elsewhere.
He says the provincial government will be sending officials into the township soon to get that process underway.
Around 18,000 sandbags have been produced in Minden according to Devolin, and there are some road closures the community should be aware of.
Devolin says at this point, the township is at the mercy of the weather. He says many residents have begun self-evacuating, but it’s too soon to tell if there will be a mandatory evacuation.
Devolin says if you see something wrong, call 911. Don’t try to fix anything yourself, as public safety is the township’s biggest concern right now. He says first responders are on-hand, and ready to get to the scene.
On top of that, he says the township has had hundreds of volunteers helping out with tying sandbags and lending a hand. He says anyone else looking to help out can contact Dawn Newhook, the township’s Clerk at (705) 286 1260, or by email at [email protected].
You can stay up-to-date with information from the township on its website at http://mindenhills.ca/emergency-alerts.
More details on road closures and where to pick up sandbags is below: