Water levels in the Maitland River at Harriston are higher than they've been in decades.
They were approaching the 100-year flood mark at 11am today, as the Town of Minto held a press conference to provide an update on local flooding.
The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority is reporting between 40 and 130mm of rain fell overnight in the watershed.
“They've now advised us this is close to the 100-year event. So the last time we had water up to this (level) was Hurricane Hazel in '54,” said Minto Mayor George Bridge.
At 10:04 am on June 23, Bridge declared a state of emergency for the Town of Minto due to flooding.
Residents were evacuated from the trailer park, where power and gas have been disconnected.
Westario Power is working in Harriston as many residents with flooded basements have electrical concerns.
Minto Fire has also evacuated residents on King Street South in Harriston.
Bridge said evacuees were taken to the Palmerston Community Centre.
“So far we have had no injuries,” said Bridge. “And I just really want to commend the fire department and public works for all the work they've been doing since six o'clock this morning.”
He added, “The fire department has been going door to door, evacuating people that need it, seeing what assistance they may need. I believe there's a couple of hundred homes that have water in the basement.”
The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority issued a flood watch at 4:58am on Friday and advises the Maitland River continues to rise and is expected to do so during the day. Significant isolated flooding occurred throughout Minto in the early morning hours.
Some of the flooding is due to sewer backup, town officials have stated.
Highway 89 in Harriston is closed from Arthur Street to O’Dwyers Road and several other streets within Harriston are flooded and the river has now breached the Young Street Bridge and flooded the immediate areas of King Street, George Street and the trailer park.
As of 12:30pm the water was within inches of the bottom of the Arthur Street bridge on Highway 9.
Isolated flooding has occurred in Palmerston and Clifford and in rural areas. Some rural roads are now impassable.
Although light rain continues to fall intermittently, Bridge was hopeful he situation would soon improve.
“We're hoping that the river's going to crest later on this afternoon and it's going to start going down,” Bride stated.
Bridge said Harriston is in a low area along he Maitland, a 300-foot drop from the headwaters, making it vulnerable to flooding.
