Thirteen Saskatchewan communities declare states of emergency after storms drop 275 millimetres of rain

Thirteen Saskatchewan communities are in states of emergency this week after a series of intense storms dumped 100-275 millimetres of rain over approximately ten days in eastern parts of the province.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, working with the Water Security Agency, is offering support and resources to affected communities, including the village of Togo, the town of Canora, and Cote First Nation. Nine people have been evacuated from Cote First Nation as of Thursday noon due to concerns over emergency access to homes.

"These localized flood events are very difficult to predict and manage. They're driven by intense storm systems which drop a lot of water in a short period," said Leah Clark, an executive director for irrigation and economic development with the Water Security Agency.

In Canora, about 70 homes in the community of roughly 1,700 people have basements flooded with sewage after sewer systems were overwhelmed by the volume of water. Residents reported being "frustrated, tired, overwhelmed" and wanting their homes back, according to a community development officer.

Overland flooding has shut down stretches of Saskatchewan highways. As of Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Highways reported 17 closures along regional highways, plus 18 areas where water was flowing over the roadway. Ministry crews are working to temporarily restore impacted streets with gravel and other band-aid solutions, with permanent fixes to begin later after structural assessments.

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency has deployed equipment to help communities pump out water and pile sandbags, and is assisting communities in applying for financial aid through the province's disaster assistance program.