Emergency Response and Recovery Update: July 16, 2014

Released on July 16, 2014

• The Ministry of Government Relations has established a number of regional flood recovery centres, providing area residents with valuable post-flood information and expertise in communities across Saskatchewan.
• Centres will be open in the following communities:

• Esterhazy – July 14 to 16

• West End (Crooked Lake/ Round Lake) – July 16 to 17

• Balcarres – July 16 to 18

• Yorkton – July 18 to 20

• The reception centre in the community of Crooked Lake remains operational, serving as a central location for local officials and EMFS staff to coordinate relief and mitigation efforts in the area.
• Regional flood recovery centres have concluded in the communities of:

• Melville

• Carnduff

• Moosomin

• Grenfell

• Sakimay

• For the 2014 heavy rain events, PDAP has approved 116 municipalities for designation under the program.  In total, PDAP has received 968 claims.
• As claims are submitted, they are triaged to determine if they qualify for a $3,000 emergency advance on the total claim.  To date, 48 claims have triggered a $3,000 emergency advance payment for a total of $144,000.  Emergency Advance Payments are provided to an eligible claimant within 10 days of submitting their completed application.  The emergency advances are sent to the claimant via Xpress post.
• Once an eligible claimant submits their completed application, an adjustor will review the damages.  Claimants can generally expect a payment within 90 days of the adjustor’s visit.
• For more information on PDAP, or to begin the claims process contact, 1-866-632-4033, or visit http://gr.gov.sk.ca/PDAP.

• All areas across the province are now in recession.
• Last Mountain Lake appears to have peaked at 491.56 m and is declining.
• It is important to note that the structure at Craven has been open since March of 2013 and is not holding back any water in the lake and WSA is constantly monitoring the debris at the structure.
• All lakes will remain high for the rest of the summer recreational season.
• To check the lake levels and stream flows in real time, visit www.wsask.ca.

• Crooked Lake – Currently at 453.11 m and is 1.41 m higher than the normal summer level.
• Round Lake – Currently at 444.11 m and is 1.71 m higher than the normal summer level.
• Last Mountain Lake – Currently at 491.53 m and is 1.33 m higher than the normal summer level.Echo Lake – Currently at 479.75 m and is 0.65 m higher than the normal summer level.
• Katepwa Lake – Currently at 478.76 and is 0.46 m higher than the normal summer level.
• Buffalo Pound Lake – Currently at 509.75 m and is 0.35 m higher than the normal summer level.

• Big Quill Lake is at 520.12 m and Little Quill Lake is at 520.45 m.  The major flows from this rainfall event came into Little Quill and inflows are continuing, though declining.  Water is flowing from Little Quill into Big Quill.  The lakes are expected to equalize at around 520.30 m.  The previous historical extreme was in 2013 at 519.74 m.  The concern in this area is the impact of high water on roads, especially Grid 640 running north from Wynyard.  Wind and wave action can escalate this impact.

• Fishing Lake is currently at 530.53 m and appears to be receding.  Good Spirit Lake is currently at 485.45 m and is now in recession.

• WSA is advising the public of high lake levels on Emma and Christopher lakes in northern Saskatchewan.  The above normal amounts of precipitation this year have pushed a number of lakes above their normal operating range and to some of the highest levels on record.  Emma and Christopher lakes are well above their maximum desirable operating levels.
• Emma Lake is currently at 516.02 m which is 0.45m above the normal summer operating range.
• Christopher Lake is currently at 515.15 m which is 0.33 m above the normal summer operating range.

• Water quality in flood-affected lakes has improved. After testing multiple water samples, the province has ended a public health advisory about high levels of bacteria in Last Mountain, Echo, Pasqua, Katepwa, Crooked and Round lakes.
• Members of the public can resume swimming and in-water recreational activities, but are encouraged to continue exercising caution at flooded beaches, since there may still be physical hazards or debris in lakes and rivers.

• The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure continues to reopen flood-affected highways to traffic.  Notably, Highway 16 near Elfros was reopened to traffic last night.
• In many cases, the initial repairs were temporary in nature and crews are now beginning to work on permanent solutions. This means motorists may encounter rough patches, soft spots, reduced speeds, or one-lane traffic.  In addition, several temporary bridges are subject to weight restrictions that will limit heavy traffic. A 20 tonne gross vehicle weight restriction is in effect for:
• Highway 8 between U.S. border and Highway 13;
• Highway 8 north of Highway 22;
• Highway 18 between junction of Highway 8 and Manitoba border; and
• Highway 361 from Manitoba border to Alida.

• Highway 22 from the junction of Highway 47 to Highway 10;
• Highway 229 west of Highway 9; and
• Highway 361 from the village of Alida to 2 km west.

• The Agriculture Knowledge Centre (1-866-457-2377) is available to respond to concerns from farmers and ranchers regarding the flooding situation, and to provide agronomic information and program advice.
• Producers are also reminded of the Ministry’s Forage, Feed and Custom Service Listing which can be found at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing.
• Anyone dealing with the aftermath of flooding can use the government’s Farm Stress Line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for confidential telephone counselling at 1-800-667-4442.

• Producers have been contacting their local Crop Insurance offices to report crop flooded from the recent heavy rain event.
• As of July 15, 2014, SCIC has received 434 pre-harvest claims* from producers.  A pre-harvest claim is filed when the producer decides not to harvest the damaged crop and puts that crop to an alternate use (i.e. spraying for weed control).  Please note, some of these claims are from other storm and hail activity in the province.
• All Crop Insurance customers are covered for flooding through the multi-peril yield-loss program.  The majority of claims from the heavy rain event will be filed in the fall, following harvest, as producers measure whether their actual crop production meets their insured production.

• SaskEnergy is currently managing cases of pipeline washouts in southeast Saskatchewan, as increased water levels and flow can cause erosion of river beds and ground cover of pipelines in the area resulting in exposure.
• These pipeline washouts will be visibly marked.  The public is asked to remain a safe distance away from these areas.