The Municipality of West Nipissing is under a state of emergency after rising water levels triggered road closures and safety concerns across the region on Saturday. The emergency declaration was made at about 2:30 p.m. on April 18, according to West Nipissing Mayor Kathleen Rochon. At that time, Highway 64 was already partially underwater in the Field area. “The water has risen since then,” Rochon said in an interview with CTV News Channel on Sunday afternoon. The Ministry of Natural Resources has issued a Flood Watch for the region. “Continued rainfall, rising water levels, and deteriorating road conditions have resulted in localized flooding, road closures and increased safety risks,” the municipality said in a news release. Road closures and travel hazards Multiple roads remain closed due to flooding and washouts, according to municipal updates. As of noon on April 19, the following closures are in effect: The municipality said that Coyote Ridge Road in Crystal Falls was previously closed but has since been reopened after repairs. The muncipality’s website is providing an up-to-date closure list as the emergency continues. Officials are warning drivers not to enter flooded roadways. “Driving through flooded or water-covered roads is dangerous and unpredictable. Water levels may be deeper than they appear and road washouts can occur suddenly,” said the municipality. No evacuation orders yet, but residents urged to prepare To date, no evacuation orders have been issued, Rochon said. “We are keeping that as a tool that we may have to use, depending on how quickly and how much the water rises,” she said. The mayor told CTV News that road closures are already affecting access to some properties and the availability of emergency services. “We are trying to communicate to residents, especially in areas that are already impacted, to be ready to go if there is an evacuation order issued, and also to try to prepare protection measures for their property, especially homes,” said Rochon. Sandbag distribution, public safety tips Limited sandbags are available for affected households in urgent need. Identification is required, with a maximum of 25 bags per household. Officials said the bags are being distributed Sunday at the Verner Fire Hall and the Field Fire Hall as supplies last. Sand piles have been delivered to the following sites for residents to fill their own bags: The municipality advised that as of noon sandbags are also available for purchase at Sturgeon Falls Home Hardware, Simcoe Northern Supply, OCP Construction Supplies in North Bay – adding online retailers such as Amazon also sell sandbags. Public safety recommendations from the municipality include: Residents using private wells should stop using the water immediately if contamination is suspected and arrange testing through the local health unit. Conditions remain uncertain as snow melt continues While sunny weather offered a brief reprieve Saturday, Rochon said water levels are still rising. “The water does continue to rise as the melt is still going on north of us, and there’s still a lot of water in the watershed that hasn’t made its way down yet,” she said. Rochon also expressed concerns about Lake Nipissing, where ice has not yet fully cleared. “If we get winds that start pushing large chunks of ice up to shore, there could be damage along shoreline properties there as well,” she said. The mayor said public works crews, OPP and fire services are conducting ongoing patrols and wellness checks across the region. “We really don’t know at this point how bad it’s going to get or how long it’s going to last,” said Rochon. RELATED STORIES:
