EASTERN CHARLOTTE — Eastern Charlotte Mayor John D. Craig says that the residents along the banks of the Magaguadavic River and Lake Utopia are lucky the rain stopped when it did.
Torrential rain pummeled the region on Friday and Saturday. An estimated 100 millimetres of rain fell hard and fast in the region by Saturday night. Water levels in the river reached 20 metres at the height of the storm spilling its banks and fl ooding several roads and causing some damage to nearby properties. Mayor Craig says that water levels over 16 metres are never good.
“It wasn’t as bad as the flood in 2010 when the water levels rose to over 23 metres,” says Mayor Craig.
While the damage was localized some homeowners living on the water lost docks, lawn furniture and had water in the basements. Craig says that the open winter helped alleviate the extent of the flooding.
“The lack of snow in the area allowed some of the rain to soak into the ground,” says Craig.
While the storm caused some damage it was fortunate that there was no threat to the citizens living in the area. Mayor Craig said that the Public Works crew and the Fire Department were on the ready, but they did not have to respond with any emergency measures.
He believes that three roads were closed and by mid-week water levels should return to normal.
“I think people have to realize that these once in a lifetime or once-every-20-to-50-year storms can come at any time now,” says Craig, who added that people really need to think about how close to the water they build their homes.
crystalmurray@advocateprinting.com