Parts of Nova Scotia ravaged by heavy rains and flash flooding — again
Emergency alerts were issued Thursday evening as the remnants of post-tropical storm Beryl swept through
Less than two weeks before the anniversary of deadly floods that devastated parts of Nova Scotia, some of those same counties were once again ravaged by heavy rains and raging floodwaters.
The flooding led to the death of a Wolfville youth, who was pulled into a water-filled ditch and disappeared under the rushing water Thursday night. Officials have not released the youth's name, age or gender.
A flash flood alert was issued for Digby, Annapolis, Kings and Hants counties Thursday evening as remnants of post-tropical storm Beryl swept through the western part of the province.
The province issued the alert at 8:30 p.m. AT.
"Heavy rain caused by thunderstorms passing through areas of the province are causing some localized flooding and washouts of roads," stated the alert.
"Flash flooding has been reported. Residents are advised to listen to local forecasts and use caution if traveling."
'Extremely devastating'
Abraham Zebian, mayor of West Hants Regional Municipality, told CBC News on Thursday night the alert brought an unwelcome sense of deja vu.
Four people died in West Hants last July when torrential downpours swamped most of central Nova Scotia. Hundreds of people were forced from their homes, and there was widespread damage to roads and other infrastructure.
"These storms are becoming very frequent, it becomes taxing on residents and you know, you hope for the best for everybody," said Zebian on Thursday evening.
He said he'd visited a number of sites in his area to get a sense of the flood damage.
"There's some road washouts, overland flooding, infrastructure that was inundated with a lot of water in a very short period of time," Zebian said, adding he was hearing reports of flooded basements and water reaching the height of electrical panels.
The basement of Carly Richard's home in Windsor flooded on Thursday. Richard, 19, said that also happened during last year's flood.
"My single mom, it's just me and her that are at the home, she bought that house four years ago. I remember that it was a big deal, her first home she ever bought. So for this to continue happening, it's extremely devastating," Richard told CBC News.
Richard, who is also a volunteer firefighter, said a lot of people in Windsor, Falmouth, Brooklyn and surrounding areas continue to live with damage from a year ago.
"We're still dealing with clogged drains, culverts that have been crushed or damaged due to the last flood. That's the whole reason we are flooding again today is because nothing has been resolved. No drains have been cleared, ditches are still full from last year. There's no place for the water to go, unfortunately. That's why it's so bad."
Scott Hamilton, the chief of the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department, said there was flooding in some parts of the Annapolis Valley town.
He said the fire department helped with the voluntary evacuations of people from around 10 homes, responded to some car crashes, and helped with road closures.
"There's a significant amount of water down this time with the amount of run-off that we've had … we are slowly starting to see it subside — slowly, but it is starting," said Hamilton.
WATCH | Remnants of post-tropical storm Beryl swept through parts of Nova Scotia:
In the neighbouring town of Wolfville, N.S., Mayor Wendy Donovan said officials were telling people to stay home.
She said there was flooding on several streets, more than she remembered from past flooding incidents. She said the flooding was particularly bad on part of Main Street and at a new development on Maple Street.
"Last Saturday's rain saturated the ground. We had a huge amount of rain today in a very short period of time during high tide, so it was the worst possible combination of events," said Donovan.
Brett Tettanish, chief of the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department in Hants County, told CBC News on Thursday night his station was busy responding to flooding. He was advising people to stay in their homes if it was safe to do so, but if not they should call for assistance.
"It's a little bit of an emergency situation," Tettanish said.
Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office activated its provincial co-ordination centre around 10 p.m.
"We are monitoring the situation and working to support our municipal partners with their response," the office told CBC News in an email on Thursday night.
Rain, thunderstorm warnings issued
Earlier in the day, Environment Canada issued rainfall and thunderstorm warnings for the Annapolis Valley, Hants County and northern mainland Nova Scotia.
"It kind of started out sprinkles in the area I was driving through and then it was just a heavy downpour through the whole county," Shayna Weaver Prall of Middleton told CBC News.
Weaver Prall documented some of the flooding she encountered late Thursday afternoon on Highway 362 and on Dodge Road. She posted videos to social media to show others the rapid flooding and to advise people to drive with caution.
"I've seen a lot of roads washing away and culverts can't handle the amount of water they're getting," Weaver Prall said.
"There's definitely a lot of cars struggling in parking lots just because they're so overrun with water."
Weaver Prall said she saw work crews out trying to get the water under control, as well as police blocking off some of the badly flooded roadways.
Denise Pothier was out for a meal at Frank and Dora's Takeout in Cornwallis, N.S., when the flooding began.
"We were eating at a table and it just kept coming up further and further and then it hit in the restaurant," said Pothier, who was in the area for a camping trip.
Pothier said she didn't realize how intense the flooding was until she looked at the parking lot.
"I was just thinking of the people who own the restaurant but then when I turned and saw our cars, I thought, oh my gosh, the cars are going to start to slide and go off the cliff in the back," Pothier said.
Pothier said the water had reached halfway up her tires by the time she managed to get in and drive away.
"It was a little nerve-rattling."
Frank and Dora's Takeout posted photos of the flood damage inside the restaurant on Thursday evening.
"Sadly we will be closed for a few days as we navigate cleanup from the worst culvert breach to date. Thanks to all who have already reached out and expressed your concern," the post read in part.
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With files from Meig Campbell, Richard Woodbury and Danielle Edwards