UPDATE:The Town of Arborfield has partially rescinded the mandatory evacutation order. Some residents in the community have been allowed to return home subject to low water and sewage usage. The City of Estevan have lifted their state of emergency.
The heavy rains that hit the province this week have now moved on, but the damage left behind will take a long time to repair.
Five communities including the Shoal Lake First Nation are still dealing with states of emergency, and one community has been completely evacuated.
Normally about 350 people live in Arborfield in east central Saskatchewan about 260 kilometers east of Regina, but today its occupied mainly by emergency crews and a small staff at the town office
The entire community was forced to evacuate after a road that acted as a berm gave way releasing what amounted to a small lake. Residents had only a few hours to clear out.
The provinces director of emergency planning Duane Mckay says the situation has stabilized
“So things are progressing there, it certainly would be that water flows are beginning to mitigate in that particular area,” he said. “Plans will be undertaken to get people back in their homes and start looking at some of the damage that was caused there.”
Among those evacuated were 36 residents of a nursing home. Some were placed in nearby hospitals, others are staying with relatives or friends. They were forced out on Monday after flood waters approached, but never entered the facility.
Health department spokesman, Merv Tippe, says health care concerns also forced the evacuation of about 11 residents from the Shoal Lake First Nation.
“We worked with social services and the community of Shoal Lake to move a number of folks to Prince Albert.” he said. “These people are what we consider high priority individuals that need ongoing health care.”
Health officials are also monitoring the situation on the Red Earth and Cumberland First Nation where some high risk people may have to be moved because the access roads into the communities may not be accessible to emergency vehicles if the need arises.
In Carrot River, a state of emergency also exists. About 50 basements have been flooded there.
The worst hit is Estevan, where about five inches of rain fell on Sunday. A trailer court had to be evacuated and hundreds of basements were flooded. The floods have since receded and residents are now scrambling to find clean up companies. Insurance adjustors are also on scene. Damage will run into the millions.