Reeve of recently flooded community worries such events may occur more frequently

THUNDER BAY -- As cleanup efforts continue after flash flooding struck rural communities on Monday, the reeve of one community under a state of emergency is worried about how often these events are happening.

Gillies reeve Rick Kieri on Wednesday took media on a tour of some of the areas hit hardest after significant rainfall resulted in water levels in the Whitefish River surging, where it broke the banks in multiple spots and washed out roadways and flooded homes.

At least 10 homes in Gillies suffered flood damage while a number in nearby Nolalu, which is in the township of Lybster, were also affected.

“It seems to be more frequent though not as widespread, but more concentrated and within that concentration it’s more intense in those areas so we’re getting heavier damage in smaller areas,” Kieri said.

“That much rain, depending how widespread it is in the watershed, when it concentrates you have a lot of water coming.”

He said most of the damage is in areas immediately surrounding the Whitefish River and not throughout the entire community like the 2008 flood where Gillies, O’Connor and Oliver Paipoonge all declared states of emergency.

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority calculated about 123 millimetres of rain had fallen in a 12-hour span on Monday. 

While water levels have receded since, the Whitefish River is still higher than normal with strong currents flowing. However, another significant rainstorm in the next few days could result in another round of flooding.

A number of roads within the Nolalu area remain closed while Highways 593 and 595 have localized closures.

The impacts of storms and floods in vast but sparsely populated areas such as Gillies presents problems.

“We’re a small community with limited budgets. Had it been more severe if we had more infrastructure damage we just don’t have the deep pockets to deal with it timely and getting it done without burdening the taxpayers,” Kieri said.

Kieri was joined by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro, who saw an area of Highway 595 in Hymers that was completely washed away as well as a property at the southwestern edge of the township boundary.

“It’s really remarkable to see the force of nature and the power of the storm that went through here,” Mauro said after touring the aftermath at Daves Road, where water rushed through one homeowners property and carved out the roadway and may have caused structural damage to a nearby bridge.

“I think what’s becoming most concerning for us all is this doesn’t seem to be abnormal or an anomaly anymore. It’s not a matter of it, it’s about when. This is the third or fourth storm in the last six or eight years.”

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be sending officials to the area on Thursday to survey the damage and assist with applications to the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.

Kieri said he is satisfied with the provincial response thus far, which was included Ministry of Transportation crews dispatched to repair the washed out roads.

He added residents on wells should use bottled water for at least the next few days until they can have their drinking water assessed.