Flood risk low for Selkirk so far

 

RECORD PHOTO BY AUSTIN GRABISH

Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson and City of Selkirk emergency co-ordinator Darrell Kupchik are happy ice-cutting in Selkirk has now finished. Both are optimistic about the current flood forecast for the city.

By Austin Grabish, The Selkirk Record

There’s a small chance of a spring flood in Selkirk this year, but officials with the city say they are prepared for one just in case.

“We’re optimistic that we’re going to be in good shape,” said Selkirk Mayor Larry Johannson in an interview Friday.

“The temperatures have been really really good, the ice is rotting underneath, and we’re getting good strong sun during the day,” Johannson said.

Ice-cutting crews finished chopping their way through 29 kilometres of ice in the area between Breezy Point and Selkirk last week.

The Amphibex machines are now working on the Brokenhead River, north of Selkirk.

Officials are praising the gradual melt that’s taken place so far this spring and say minimal run-off is what’s partly caused the low flood-risk.

“We’re in a good spot right now,” said City of Selkirk emergency co-ordinator Darrell Kupchik.

The current flood forecast is a sigh of relief for the city who dealt with flooding just last year.

“I breath a lot easier than I did last year,” Johannson said.

Last year a dumping of snow was blamed for flooding that affected some parts in Selkirk like the Selkirk Park.

But if the situation changes Johannson said Selkirk will be protected.

“All our guys are ready,” Johannson said.

Kupchik said staff in both the public works and community services departments at the city are ready to respond to a flood risk if one arises.

“We are prepared,” Kupchik said.

He said the city has clay for dikes ready to go and there is enough sand to fill thousands of sandbags if needed.

But Kupchik stressed everything will depend on the weather so crews will just be on stand by for now.

“A lot of what we do is we prepare and wait,” Kupchik said.

Johannson said if the flood-risk changes the city will move to protect high-risk areas that are prone to flooding like the waterfront and the Selkirk Park.

“We’ve got a plan in place,” Johannson said.

“We want the citizens and the people on the waterfront to know that we’re watching things, and we’re keeping a close eye on it, and if trouble arises our guys are ready to kick into gear.”

“We feel pretty good.”

 -- First published in the Selkirk Record print edition March 26, 2015 p.3