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https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/sussex-flooding-keeps-grandmother.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IDJKzdjm0c
Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development Mike Holland asked about Huge Flood in Sussex
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/sussex-flooding-keeps-grandmother.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sussex-waterford-flood-culvert-1.5825858
Sussex flooding keeps grandmother trapped at home for 2 days
Mary Ann Coleman says it could be days before she can leave her house because of the high water levels
· CBC News· Posted: Dec 03, 2020 6:00 AM AT
Mary Ann Coleman says the bridge in her driveway has survived many floods, but not this year. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)
Latest
- Higgs offer condolences, says damage is 'severe' in Sussex
- Red Cross provides support, accommodation for 30 families
- Province's health and safety inspection teams in Sussex
- How to report damage
It's been two days since a Sussex-area woman became trapped inside her home after rising water surrounded her property earlier this week.
And she's still waiting for help.
"I have no way out of here," said Mary Ann Coleman from inside her house.
The 63-year-old lives on Creek Road in Waterford, about 90 kilometres east of Saint John. Her driveway, which links her property with the main road, was "washed out" by the heavy rains overnight Tuesday.
Mary Ann Coleman, left, attempting to speak to family across the creek. She says it's difficult to hear people from across the rushing water. (Submitted by Jessica Coleman)
At around midnight Tuesday, the culvert a few metres from her house was dammed by fallen trees and debris, causing the area to flood and her bridge to float away, she said.
"The water levels were higher than I've seen. I moved here 40 years ago," Coleman said. "I'm in complete, complete, desperate situation here … I'm stranded."
Part of her driveway was made from the metal frame of a pulp truck and anchored with concrete abutments. It created a 20-foot bridge over Trout Creek.
Coleman said she only had two hours of sleep overnight Tuesday. She said the creek between her house and the road is about a metre deep, it's rushing quickly and is 20 feet wide.
"I had some rest last night but I'm still pretty anxious," she said Thursday afternoon.
Premier notes 'severe' damage in Sussex area
At a COVID-19 news briefing on Thursday, Premier Blaine Higgs used his opening remarks to address the situation in the Sussex region and offer his condolences to residents.
"My thoughts are with everyone who is affected by the heavy rainfall," Higgs said. "Thank you to the emergency services who have helped the people in need. I'm thankful for the unbelievable community spirit that the people of New Brunswick and emergency services have shown."
Higgs noted that the damage is still being assessed, but is "severe" in the Sussex and Sussex Corner areas.
He said 30 households have received accommodation and support from the Canadian Red Cross, which has also offered flood cleanup kits for residents.
Province isn't stepping in
Coleman said she called the Department of Transportation, which told her to call the Emergency Measures Organization, but EMO told her to call 911. She called 911 and was directed her back to EMO. She said she doesn't know what to do next.
"That's just stunning to me," she said. "I think everybody should be worried about that."
Geoffrey Downey, a spokesperson for New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization, said he couldn't comment on individual cases like this one.
Meanwhile, Department of Transportation spokesperson Mélanie Sivret said the department "recently became aware of this incident," and is looking into it.
Coleman, who describes herself as an active person and cycles every morning, has been trying to stay busy.
She's been working from home, talking to people on the phone and she's been trying to keep her wood fire going so she doesn't lose heat.
Mary Ann Coleman says debris and trees blocked the culvert, flooding the creek between her home and main road. (Submitted by Dianne McFarlane)
Luckily, Coleman grows some crops in her garden so she's been relying on vegetables for the past two days.
"There's not too much anybody can do."
Coleman said she believes the flooding was caused by a new culvert built by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, which was previously too big to be blocked by debris. It was rebuilt in 2019, she said.
Coleman said she wants the department to "take responsibility."
'It's my mom'
Coleman's daughter, Jessica Coleman, has been calling and texting her mom several times a day. On Wednesday, she went down by the river with her two kids to see her mom. The sound of the water rushing was so loud, all they could do was wave.
After this year, it's one of those things that tops the cake," she said. "I have no idea when she will be able to leave."
She said what's making it more difficult is trying to get answers and figuring out what can be done for her mother. She said she'd like to see a temporary walking structure put in place and a permanent fix after.
"It's my mom, and she's in her 60s, and she's there on her own."
Advice from EMO
The province's health and safety inspection teams are in the Sussex area and cleanup is underway.
New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization spokesperson Geoffrey Downey urged residents to clean up "as soon as possible."
"The longer it sits the worse the damage gets."
Although water levels have gone down, some roads in the area are still closed, and residents should only return to their homes when it's safe to do so.
Residents whose homes have been damaged should register with the province at 1-888-298-8555 to receive a free inspection. The damage report line program allows residents, tenants, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to receive information and register their flood-related damage.
Damage assessments will be reviewed, and health and safety inspection teams may be dispatched if required.
Residents are also reminded to:
- Contact their insurance companies immediately to report damage.
- Take photos of damage to their homes or properties.
- Keep receipts of any repairs and replacement purchases.
- Log the number of hours of work undertaken for residents who are cleaning their own properties, or family members or those who have assisted in the cleanup of their property.
About the Author
Methinks the lady doth protest too much I have no doubt a very well connected Green Party/Conservation Council/LSD person knows as well as I that the recent floods are caused by the clearcuts upstream from her abode She just wants Higgy et al to pay for her new private bridge N'esy Pas?
The first call seems to always go to the government.
Many have forgotten that the government has the worst record when it comes to solving problems.
Other than possibly not having 72 hr emergency preparedness that is, ie empty cupboards.
In a couple days she'll be able to wade across.
The non apartment dwellers will recognize that home owners are responsible for their own culvert to access their land. IF she can demonstrate the DOT's (now DTI sorry LOL) culvert caused HER problem MAYBE they will help her out. INSURANCE may also help her. Old truck frame's don't figure into official gov nor insurance projects though, could get pricey......
Province helps mend rift between communities after service commission dissolved
Board serving 18 towns and rural communities in Sussex-Hampton dissolved last month amid budget dispute
Connell Smith · CBC News · Posted: Mar 11, 2019 5:00 AM AT
"Mary Ann Coleman chairs the LSD Advisory Committee for Waterford, which has a population of approximately 500.
She says costs should be allocated strictly on how waste is generated by each community.
The current cost formula involves a combination of a levee on the amount of trash collected and a fixed amount for each community that is dedicated to providing stable funding for the region's waste transfer station in Sussex.
"It's important in my mind that we keep the costs of services, as much as we can, down for people," said Coleman.
"This Reply to @David Amos: Jealous that she got PAID more than you in dis place politics ?has an impact on the taxes for people in rural areas."
She says the costs to operate the waste transfer station should be taken entirely from tipping fees, which would cost the towns more and the LSDs"
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/regional-service-board-training-1.5049486
'Everything's gone': Rising water levels force people out of their homes in Sussex area
At least 21 homes had to be evacuated because of heavy rain and flooding
Roads have been destroyed by Tuesday's rainstorm. (Gary Moore/CBC News)
When the rain started to hit hard, Kelsey Richardson's main focus was to make sure her kids were safe.
So, at around midnight, she packed them in the car and left her Sussex home.
"We hoped to heck we were going to make it to the end of the street," she said, as she held two of her children, Abby, 8, and Bentley, 4.
Richardson, her fiancé and her three children, including infant Cohen, live on Homan Avenue, one of the areas of Sussex hit hardest by Tuesday's rainstorm.
As she was leaving her home, which she rents, the water was almost to the hood of her vehicle, she said.
"We were lucky to get out," she recalled as her kids played in the water left behind by the storm. "I thought we were going to float away."
Richardson said she's distraught by the loss and didn't expect the water to ruin so many of her belongings.
Water is spilling all over the roads in the Sussex area, forcing several road closures. (Gary Moore/CBC)
She lost her couches, her children's toys, window screens and her daughter's kindergarten materials. There's mud and sludge all over the house.
The family was able to salvage a few teddy bears.
She doesn't have insurance. And doesn't want to think about Christmas.
"Everything's gone," she said, hugging her daughter.
WATCH | The Richardson family don't know if they'll have a home again for Christmas
Damages expected to be around $18M
Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne said people in the area were devastated by the downpour, which he described as worse than the 2014 flood linked to a river ice jam that caused a state of emergency and forced neighbourhoods to evacuate from their homes.
"The water is a little dirtier and the damage a bit greater," Thorne said.
He said the 2014 flood caused about $18 million in damage.
Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne said residents are devastated by this week's rainstorm. (Gary Moore/CBC)
"People are feeling heartbroken because they've been through this before."
Thorne said he visited some of the homes in the area Wednesday morning, some of which have water all the way up to the first floor. He said flooding in the area has always been "one of intensity."
"Many homes that had finished basements are destroyed."
WATCH | Footage from the 2014 spring flood in Sussex
Survey some of the worst flood damage 1:33
At least 21 homes in the Sussex area have been evacuated as of 12 p.m. Tuesday because of the flooding caused by heavy rain Tuesday, according to Geoffrey Downey, a spokesperson for New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization.
Downey said a few of those families have been able to return home.
"There's certainly reports of up to several feet of water in some homes, including some sewage," he said. "So this is something that's going to be going on for a little while."
This week, Downey said the weather is favourable for recovery efforts. Temperatures are above freezing in the south and there's not much rain in the forecast this week.
"There shouldn't be anything in terms of the water rising anymore," he said. "It should just be consistently going down."
The Sussex area and Sussex Corner were the areas hit hardest by the prolonged heavy rain across the province.
"It's just like spring — there's not much you can do," he said Wednesday. "Once the water goes up, you just have to wait for it to go down."
Residents were forced from their homes overnight as rain forced water levels to rise in the Sussex area. (Gary Moore/ CBC)
So far, Downey said, people in the Sussex area are the only residents to report damage. However, there are some road and school closures in other parts of the province.
Downey said flooding can happen anytime of year, including early December.
"It just goes to show that people need to be ready for anything, essentially year-round," he said. "It's not just flood season anymore."
Visitors becoming an issue
Downey said municipalities are reporting disaster tourism in the area and he is encouraging people to stay home.
"Not only do they hamper any recovery efforts, they could end up causing problems where they need to be saved as well," he said.
He said many people are showing up at closed roads and taking photos.
"That's just getting in the way."
'It's getting so close to Christmas'
Scott Hatcher, chief administrative officer with the Town of Sussex, said 14 families in the Sussex area were forced from their homes late Tuesday night.
But he said hundreds of properties in the area were affected by the storm, and many had water in their basements.
Local fire departments were able to retrieve the stranded families with boats and bring them to shelter.
Water rising near the train bridge on Maple Avenue in Sussex. (Gary Moore/CBC)
"We're getting too used to flooding, which is not a good thing," Hatcher said.
Trout Creek, which passes through the area, reached flood stage Tuesday night. Conditions didn't improve until about 4 a.m.
"It's getting so close to Christmas and with all of the extra precautions ... with the pandemic, it's just added a bit of angst in the community," he said.
"That's really just piled on when you didn't need it to be piled on."
Canadian Red Cross volunteers arranged emergency lodging for at least 16 residents from 11 houses in the Sussex area, said Dan Bedell, a spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross. Regional emergency management coordinators are also there to make sure any needs are met.
Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for most of the province on Tuesday.
Central and southwestern parts of New Brunswick saw between 40 and 120 millimetres of rain Tuesday into Wednesday morning, and some southwestern regions were expecting up to 180 millimetres.
Environment Canada showed 181 millimetres of rain in Mechanic Settlement, about 76 kilometres southwest of Moncton.
Tina Simpkin, a CBC meteorologist said heavy rain is still expected in the Acadian Peninsula down through Moncton and into northern Nova Scotia on Wednesday.
Power outages across the province
NB Power said more than 4,000 NB Power customers are without electricity.
That's after a peak of about 7,000 customers without power Tuesday afternoon.
Marc Belliveau, a spokesperson for NB Power, said trees falling over power lines were the main problem. About 20 crews were working overnight to restore power.
Belliveau said there was also a fire in a switch gear building in Bouctouche, probably because a piece of equipment failed.
No one was hurt, but the damage is being assessed and repairs could take a bit of time.
About the Author
With files from Jennifer Sweet, Gary Moore
Then the lending institute for providing the builders mortgage.
Then the home owner themselves for making the decision to build or buy in the location.
Unfortunately a renter is the last in the chain and they bear the brunt of it.
Leave the insurance provider out of the blame game, they either will or will not provide coverage and if they do the cost will be very high.
Under no circumstances should a home owner be bailed out by the government, but if the municipality is at fault the ineptitude in most municipalities will mean that local taxpayers will pay for it.
The town and the province recently bermed a large area to protect the mall business district which no doubt contributed to this, and there are other reasons which I will not explain here.
I know you live on a mountain top so you won't have any water problems LOL. Sussex has been around much longer than you or I!
LOL
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/environment-canada-warnings-rain-1.5823097
December kicks off with up to 180 mm of rain in some areas
Central and southwestern parts of the province can expect between 40 and 120 mm of rain
Storm surge over the road at the Irving Nature Park on Tuesday. (Zach Kurylyk/Submitted)
New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization is warning residents to pay close attention to Tuesday's rainfall warnings.
Environment Canada has marked the first day of December by issuing a rainfall warning for more than half the province.
Central and southwestern parts of New Brunswick can expect between 40 and 120 millimetres of rain Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
However, some regions in southwestern New Brunswick could see up to 180 millimetres.
"No one should be caught off guard at this point, so stay informed through trusted sources and make sure you are prepared to react if needed," said Geoffrey Downey, a spokesperson for the New Brunswick EMO.
Downey said people should also check their storm drains and rain gutters and have an emergency kit ready.
Special weather statements issued
The national weather agency has also issued a special weather statement for eastern New Brunswick, where up to 50 millimetres of rain is expected. Those areas include:
- The Acadian Peninsula.
- Bathurst and Chaleur region.
- Kent County.
- Kouchibouguac National Park.
- Miramichi area.
- The Moncton area.
Environment Canada said similar rainfall events in the past have caused road washouts and localized flooding in low-lying areas.
"Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads," the agency said in a statement.
Forget snow. New Brunswick is about to see lots of rain this week. (Derek Spalding/CBC)
"Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Don't approach washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts."
Environment Canada says the storm is similar to one that caused severe flooding in December 2010.
This year, however, the ground is not frozen so it should be able to absorb a lot more rain.
"We've been running a water deficiency throughout the province for pretty much all of 2020," said Jill Mapea, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
"The ground is not very saturated at all."
After a bit of a lull Tuesday morning, Mapea said the heaviest rain was expected Tuesday afternoon and evening.
"Fingers crossed it doesn't come down too hard," she said, "but I think a lot of people with wells are welcoming this rain."
However, Mapea wasn't ruling out the possibility of flooding.
"You never know. Sometimes a big downpour can raise those levels really quick."
Populated areas might expect some street flooding, she said if storm drains are overwhelmed.
About the Author
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/regional-service-board-training-1.5049486
Province helps mend rift between communities after service commission dissolved
Board serving 18 towns and rural communities in Sussex-Hampton dissolved last month amid budget dispute
The volunteer board serving that region's service commission was dissolved by Local Government Minister Jeff Carr in early February after it became hopelessly divided over the 2019 budget.
Brenda Knight, a retired municipal administrator, has been appointed trustee to oversee operations in the board's stead.
On March 5, Knight approved a budget for the commission, which will be presented to representatives of the four municipalities and 14 local service districts in coming weeks.
In the meantime, Erika Jutras, a Department of Local Government spokeswoman, said the trustee will remain in place until either members "demonstrate" they can work together or the next municipal elections in May 2020, whichever comes first.
Division over solid waste costs
The board split last fall over how solid waste management costs were to be divided between the towns and unincorporated rural communities, called local service districts.
Many of the board members representing LSDs feel they are paying too much for waste management.
Mary Ann Coleman chairs the LSD Advisory Committee for Waterford, which has a population of approximately 500.
She says costs should be allocated strictly on how waste is generated by each community.
"It's important in my mind that we keep the costs of services, as much as we can, down for people," said Coleman.
"This has an impact on the taxes for people in rural areas."
She says the costs to operate the waste transfer station should be taken entirely from tipping fees, which would cost the towns more and the LSDs less.
Proposed budget 'didn't suit' some municipalities
James McCrea was chair of the service commission board at the time it was dissolved.
McCrea, who is from the LSD of Wickham, says the costs are not being distributed fairly, based on trash volumes alone, and that goes against the intent of regulations set out by the province.
"It was a fair budget, it was a really good budget that was proposed. But it didn't suit some of the municipalities and a couple of the local service districts," said McCrea.
"There's never been a problem existed that can't be dealt with and fixed, but everyone has to work together and share the costs."
About the Author
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New rural development minister is first female Nova Scotia MP named to federal cabinet
By Holly McKenzie-Sutter The Canadian Press January 14, 2019 3:07 pm
"Rob Moore, Conservative shadow minister for Atlantic Canada, wished Jordan well with her new portfolio, but questioned Trudeau’s motives so close to October’s federal election.
Moore said the new portfolio “appears to just be a communications exercise” that may stand for too little, too late.
“It appears to be just to give off the impression that they’re connected or concerned with Atlantic issues, when in fact the last three years tells us that Atlantic and rural issues are on the backburner,” Moore said.
Trudeau’s cabinet came under fire from some Atlantic Canadians when Navdeep Bains, a Mississauga MP, was put in charge of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Criticism also followed when New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc was shuffled out of the Fisheries portfolio to be replaced with Jonathan Wilkinson, who represents North Vancouver.
Jordan said Monday the government has a genuine commitment to rural Canada.
“I think it’s an unfortunate thing that people don’t consider rural important, because rural is extremely important to this government, we’re showing that,” she said."
Once Mr. Carr gets the cart back in front of the horse he should (IMO) take a moment and listen to Mr. McCrea. He no doubt has a better background on the subject than Mr. Carr does.
http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/03/province-helps-mend-rift-between.html
Monday, 11 March 2019
Province helps mend rift between communities after service commission dissolved
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_repliesDavid Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Methinks it would be interesting to see what Minister Bernadette Jordan thinks of this spit and chew about our garbage We already know what Rob Moore the wannabe MP again thinks of her new position N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/03/province-helps-mend-rift-between.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/regional-service-board-training-1.5049486
Province helps mend rift between communities after service commission dissolved
https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/press-release/7815/statement-greenpeace-calls-out-feds-for-hypocrisy-in-plastic-investment/
STATEMENT: Greenpeace calls out feds for hypocrisy in plastic investment
“It’s hypocritical for the federal government to claim it’s committed to reducing plastic waste and pollution, yet provide multimillion-dollar grants to the companies that produce the plastic in the first place. If this government truly wanted to tackle this plastics crisis, it would put its money where its mouth is and invest these taxpayer dollars into funding innovation of new delivery and refill and reuse systems using plastic-free product packaging instead of adding more plastic into the system.
It’s obvious that investing in producing more plastic offsets any progress towards a solution. We generate so much plastic waste that in recent years we’ve had to export upwards of half of it to other countries. Now many are closing their doors tired of being dumping grounds for Canada’s plastic problem. The only way to reduce waste and curb pollution is to stop producing the destructive products in the first place and ban some of the most problematic single-use plastics to reduce our impact on our oceans.”
Philippa Duchastel de Montrouge, Communications Officer, Greenpeace Canada, pduchast@greenpeace.org; +1 (514) 929-8227
https://globalnews.ca/news/4846007/ns-woman-federal-cabinet/
New rural development minister is first female Nova Scotia MP named to federal cabinet
MP Bernadette Jordan was sworn into the newly minted portfolio in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet Monday morning, after MP Scott Brison announced his sudden departure last week.
Jordan was also the first woman elected to represent her riding of South Shore-St. Margarets, in 2015
Jordan is to create a rural-development strategy, including bringing high-speed internet to rural communities and help in rural infrastructure development, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
“I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else but in a rural community because I feel there’s a real sense of community, because of that I was always somebody who wanted to give back,” Jordan said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
“One of the reasons I ran to begin with was because I felt strongly that rural Canada, or rural Nova Scotia had to be better represented.”READ MORE: Jane Philpott takes over Treasury Board, Jody Wilson-Raybould to oversee veterans in cabinet shuffle
Jordan said she’s planning to prioritize broadband and cell phone connectivity to make it easier for Canadians to build lives in rural Canada.
“There are a lot of people who would like to work in rural Canada, who would like to set up businesses, who would like to study from there and it’s just not possible because of poor connectivity,” she said.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil tweeted his congratulations to Jordan on her historic appointment on Monday: “She will lead a file that is very important to Nova Scotians and I look forward to working with her.”
Rob Moore, Conservative shadow minister for Atlantic Canada, wished Jordan well with her new portfolio, but questioned Trudeau’s motives so close to October’s federal election.
Moore said the new portfolio “appears to just be a communications exercise” that may stand for too little, too late.
“It appears to be just to give off the impression that they’re connected or concerned with Atlantic issues, when in fact the last three years tells us that Atlantic and rural issues are on the backburner,” Moore said.Trudeau’s cabinet came under fire from some Atlantic Canadians when Navdeep Bains, a Mississauga MP, was put in charge of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Criticism also followed when New Brunswick MP Dominic LeBlanc was shuffled out of the Fisheries portfolio to be replaced with Jonathan Wilkinson, who represents North Vancouver.
Jordan said Monday the government has a genuine commitment to rural Canada.
“I think it’s an unfortunate thing that people don’t consider rural important, because rural is extremely important to this government, we’re showing that,” she said.
WATCH: Seamus O’Regan becomes new Minister of Indigenous Services in cabinet shuffle
Jordan, who has three children with her husband, Dave, studied politics at Nova Scotia’s St. Francis Xavier University.She has previously served as Atlantic caucus chair, chair of the standing committee of fisheries and oceans, and parliamentary secretary for the minister democratic institutions.
Before her time in Ottawa, Jordan worked in the community newspaper industry and as a fundraiser for the local Health Services Foundation in Bridgewater.
Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell said Jordan will make a great advocate for rural Canada in her new role. He called Jordan “exactly what you want in an MP.”
Jordan introduced a motion in 2016 requesting action on removing derelict vessels abandoned in Canada’s coastal communities, an issue affecting her own riding.
Ottawa later towed the MV Farley Mowat, the one-time flagship of an environmental crusader that had long since become a derelict, polluting eyesore, out of Shelburne, Nova Scotia’s harbour, to great fanfare. Jordan calls the moment her “proudest accomplishment” on the issue.