Town of Minnedosa braces for more rain after torrential storm forced evacuations

Major cleanup after rainstorm in Brandon The city of Brandon is cleaning up after a record rainstorm pounded the city. CTV's Touria Izri reports.

WINNIPEG — After torrential rain caused flooding and forced the evacuation of 24 people, Minnedosa said it is bracing for more rain.

The Town of Minnedosa was one of the many communities in southwestern Manitoba that was hit by a severe storm Sunday night. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said Brandon to Minnedosa received up to 150 mm of rain in some areas.

On Monday evening, the province closed Highway 262, three kilometres south of Clanwilliam, for bridge repairs due to a washout.

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"We've had substantial rainfalls," said Minnedosa CAO Cindy Marzoff on Monday, as the town began to process of cleaning up the damage caused by the storm.

In total, 24 people were evacuated from their homes. Marzoff said all of them have since been able to return.

She said the while she can't say if more evacuations will be necessary, the town is prepared.

"We are expecting more rain, so we have everybody put in place regarding fire departments and we have evacuations centres put in place, so everybody is ready to go," she said.

"Hopefully we don't have to utilize it, but we have everything put in place and we are expecting substantial rainfall, so we are bracing for that right now."

Marzoff said the members of the town's essential services and Emergency Measures Operations team met via teleconference with the province and public health officials to discuss the ongoing clean-up efforts.

In a statement to CTV News, a provincial spokesperson said the government is monitoring the impact of the rainfall in Minnedosa, as well as the City of Brandon and the RMs of Oakview and Elton.

While Minnedosa was hit hard by rain, receiving about 126 millimetres, the province said the City of Brandon saw the greatest amount of rainfall (150 mm) in one day since 1941 and recorded more than 100,000 lightning strikes.

Despite many communities declaring local states of emergencies due to the storm, Marzoff said the Town of Minnedosa has not taken that step yet.

"We didn't want to jump the gun and be preliminary," she said. "We're waiting to see what tonight will hold in place, but at this point, we haven't declared a state of emergency."

She thanked the residents and volunteers for their help with sandbagging efforts and reminded them to stay away from high water.

"Be very cautious, be very aware of their surroundings," she said.

The province said western Manitoba is in store for more rain in the next 24 to 48 hours, with the possibility some areas in southwestern Manitoba, including Brandon, could see up to 175 mm of rain in the next three to four days.