Evacuation alert still in place for Arborg hospital, care home, but pumps reducing risk

Pumps are reducing the risk posed by floodwaters to the hospital and personal care home in Arborg, Man., although both facilities remain on evacuation alert.

In a news release Wednesday afternoon, the municipality said the level on the Icelandic River has dropped more than a foot sincea local state of emergency was declared Sunday due to overland flooding in the area.

The junction of Highway 7 and Highway 68 at Arborg was closed Tuesday afternoon due to a road washout, though access to the town is still possible through detours.

However, high-volume pumping at the intersection has reduced floodwater and pressure on the culvert washout at the intersection.

The release said the pumps are also lowering the threat of further flooding in the community, wherethe hospital and personal care home, along with residents in the southwest part of the town, were told to prepare for evacuation earlier Wednesday.

Arborg, about 115kilometres north of Winnipeg, is one of at least 25 Manitoba municipalities not including First Nations that were under a state of emergency due to flooding as of Wednesday afternoon.

Residents are asked to call the Town of Arborg at(204) 376-2647 orMunicipality of Bifrost-Rivertonat(204) 376-2391 if they need help or more information.