Cumberland House Residents Allowed To Stay Home

Cumberland House Residents Allowed To Stay Home

Friday, June 24, 2011 at 15:24

 

 

A provincial cabinet minister has given his blessing to have residents of Cumberland House ride out a possible flood.

 

Public safety Minister Yogi Huyghebaert toured the region by helicopter yesterday before meeting with community officials.

 

Huyghebaert says some cabins have already been flooded, and certain sections of Highway 123 could go underwater when the waters crest in a few days time.

 

However, he feels local leaders are on top of the situation — and if staying put is what the community wants to do, he is OK with it.

 

Huyghebaert says berms are being put in place, and he believes the town and reserve will stay dry.

 

An official with Social Services confirms some outfitters’ cabins have been flooded in the Cumberland House region.

 

However, at this point, manager Colin King says the extent of the damage isn’t clear.

 

Meanwhile, more roads in the province’s north are closed because of flooding.

 

Saskatchewan Highways says Highway 926 from the junction of Highway 265 to the junction of Highway 969 southeast of Montreal Lake is closed because of a washout.

 

A section of Highway 939 west of Weyakwin Lake remains shut down until further notice — but the Ministry of Highways says Highway 937 from the Highway 929 junction to the Highway 921 junction is now open after being shut down yesterday.

 

Highways spokesman Doug Wakabayashi says, further north, Highway 165 west of the junction of Highway 910 and east of the Highway 914 junction is still closed because of high water.

 

Highway 910 leads to Besnard Lake, while Highway 914 is the road to Pinehouse.

 

Wakabayashi says crews will assess the situation and do any neccessary repairs once the conditions change.