Destroyed boat houses and missing docks are just some of the damage that Whiteshell residents are returning to after floodwaters forced many to evacuate the area.
Heather and Roy Howie have been battling floodwaters in their homes all year near Lake Dorothy for weeks.
“I don’t like to use the word traumatic, but it’s been because it’s been over a month,” Heather said. “It started in early May that the water started to rise.”
The couple was forced to evacuate after floodwaters cut off access to the area.
Since then, the water has begun to recede and the province has temporarily raised Highway 307, allowing the Howies to return home.
Water has damaged its backyard, gazebo and boat launch. They also have to take out hundreds of bags of sand.
“Cleaning is going to be very slow. It’s going to be very hard physical work, and I think we’re going to do it one day at a time, and we can only plan as we move forward,” Heather said.
In a statement to CTV News Winnipeg, the province said the clean-up is also beginning.
“There is a major ongoing effort with the deployment of inspectors, claims managers and the entire DFA team to ensure that the eligibility of damages is confirmed as soon as possible so that construction can begin, can be assessed non-construction damage and then funds can quickly. [be distributed]”read part of email statement.
The province said 80 municipal claims and more than 500 private claims for 2022 disaster financial assistance have been filed, totaling tens of millions of dollars.
The Whiteshell Cottagers’ Association said many farmers are paying out of pocket for damages as most insurance does not cover flooding and cottages have been left out of relief funds.
“It’s a real tragedy for people, and that’s something the Whiteshell Cottagers’ Association would like to see us revisit because these phenomena that we’re seeing are happening more,” said Ian Barager, president of the association.
The association said almost all of the lakeside huts suffered some damage, noting that cleaning updates will be provided on its Facebook page.
As for permanent residents like the Howies, they said they would like a better emergency plan to be created for when an event like this happens again.
“Since we are not a municipality, there is no emergency plan in place, which surprises me a lot because it is a river system managed by several falls,” Heather said.
She said a new emergency plan would put the boots on the ground faster, helping people like her in flood situations.