Lac Ste. Anne County Reeve Jurgen Preugschas says the municipality is still responding to over 200 infrastructure incidents caused by excessive rainfall at the end of June.
Over the June 20-21 weekend, heavy rains caused overland flooding, washouts and other travel challenges in the county. As a result, multiple roads were closed.
Since the challenges began, Preugschas says over 230 reported incidents have affected roads, culverts, bridges, ditches and lagoons in the county. In a typical week, the county would receive about 10-20 work orders for assessments, repairs or replacements.
“We have to identify exactly what we are going to do in each one of these 230 work orders,” he explains. “Some are simple and will be done quickly; some may take several weeks; and some of the real serious things may require a year or two before we’re able to get on with this.”
While long-term repair project costs may be incorporated into future budgets, the reeve is hopeful that provincial funding programs meant for these emergencies will cover most of the bill.
Preugschas says the county is well-prepared for emergencies such as this, but the situation was a good reminder that culvert maintenance needs to be an ongoing priority. As repairs are underway, crews will also be assessing damaged areas to evaluate whether infrastructure adjustments are needed to prevent similar future incidents.
Although the unprecedented rainfall has created a difficult situation for the county, Preugschas says municipal employees were instrumental in managing it.
“Without a question, the biggest success was the quick response of our staff and the commitment of our staff,” he comments. “I was just totally impressed by the dedication and how quickly everyone went out. It didn’t matter what hours, whether it was weekends or holidays; people went out and did what they had to do.”
He also thanks residents of the county for their respect and patience when reporting incidents.
“We want the residents to know that we hear their concerns. We know it’s there; we’re living it ourselves, and I think we understand the challenges that residents face, as well as what the county faces,” Preugschas says.
Residents with remaining concerns about whether incidents were reported can head to a digital map outlining remaining problem spots. As repairs are completed, the map will be updated.
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Related:
- Lac Ste. Anne flood alert cancelled, but challenges remain
- Overland flooding continues to create challenges in Lac Ste. Anne County
- Lac Ste. Anne County updates flood alert due to rainfall warning
- Lac Ste. Anne County begins temporarily reopening roads closed by flooding
- Update: Flood alert issued in Lac Ste. Anne County, travel not recommended
