Nova Scotia Floods: 3 Months’ worth of rain at once causes evacuations and at least 4 people missing

CNN
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Three months of rain have left the Canadian province of Nova Scotia inundated since Friday night, flooding streets, forcing evacuations and leaving at least four people missing — including two children.

across a province Emergency Halifax Regional Municipality and neighboring East Hants, West Hants, Lunenburg and Queens have been notified.

“We’ve had biblical amounts of rain overnight and during the day,” Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said Saturday.

Canadian police said they were still searching for two children, a teenager and a woman, who went missing after the vehicles they were traveling in sank in two separate incidents early Sunday and early Saturday morning.

“Yesterday evening, an RCMP underwater rescue team conducted an underwater search of a flooded field and located an unmanned pick-up truck believed to be the vehicle in which the children were traveling” The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement. “Search efforts are continuing in the same area for four people and a second vehicle.”

Premier Tim Houston said on Twitter on Sunday: “Thank you to Nova Scotia’s first responders for their incredible work in response to the flood.”

Houston said at a press conference on Saturday that three people who were passengers with the missing children escaped from their vehicle and two people were rescued from the other car.

“I can’t stop thinking about these families and these four people,” Houston told reporters. “I want them to know that everything that can be done is being done. I know the entire province is praying with me for their safe return.

Houston said the province received 250 millimeters of rain in one day.

“We got three months of rain in less than 24 hours,” he said. “It came fast and it came furiously.”

On Sunday, Houston told reporters that officials were working to repair closed roads and compromised infrastructure.

“We have about 25 bridges affected across the province, 19 damaged, investigations are ongoing, but six of them – six – bridges have been completely destroyed,” he said during a news conference on Sunday. “It’s incredible to see the power of the water and the impact it has had. We are working as quickly as possible to get our roads open.

A temporary bridge is expected to be completed Sunday night so nearly 400 people stranded at the motocross track in East Hance can return to their places, Nova Scotia’s Department of Public Works said.

As hundreds return home following the evacuation, Nova Scotia officials said others are still displaced and receiving help from the Red Cross.

About 750 people were ordered to leave the Halifax area overnight Friday, while more than 400 homes in Lunenburg were evacuated, officials said Saturday.

Water levels are high in many affected areas of the province, so residents are asked to shelter in place and only return home if advised that it is safe to do so.

The emergency declaration will remain in effect until August 5, unless authorities suspend or extend it. According to the Government of Nova Scotia.

“Once again, our community faces the brute force and unpredictability of nature and a changing climate,” Mayor Savage said Saturday.

“It’s an unusual event that I know follows on the heels of wildfires not too long ago. Hurricane Fiona last fall,” added the Halifax mayor.

Some communities in the Halifax area are still recovering from it Large wildlife It began in late May, prompting evacuation orders for about 16,400 residents and destroying 151 homes, according to CNN’s Canadian partner. CBC reported.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered support to Nova Scotia residents A post on Twitter “We are providing resources to assist with evacuations – and we stand ready to provide additional federal resources as needed. Please stay safe, everyone,” said Saturday afternoon, with air and sea assistance.

Trudeau spoke to Houston on Saturday and emphasized federal and local cooperation in search and rescue efforts, Trudeau’s office said in a news release.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting Nova Scotians in the days and weeks ahead as they respond to the flooding,” the statement said. “He also acknowledged the strength of Nova Scotians, who come together in tough times and show each other.”