New Brunswick floods

Hey folks,
Just when the weather got warm enough to go riding, the water level on the Saint John river started to rise. There is a lot of snow in the northern woods of the province and the sudden warm weather set it all flowing into the river. Several roads in the Southern parts are closed for safety reasons. Many homeowners and business people have had severe losses due to flooding. Farmers had to evacuate livestock to high ground, and on and on it goes.
Emergency services have been stretched to the limit for several days in preparation and actual rescues of people and pets. The levels are expected to stay or even rise in the next few days !! People who remember say that this year's flood beats the record set in 1973. It is so bad that the main arterial highway from the capital city to Moncton is closed, resulting in a 60 mile detour. I have ridden that highway many times and never thought it would be under water, ever!
People are coping as best they can, but it will take a long time to get over this. Many do not have flood insurance. They will need all the help and prayers in the coming days. I don't know any of them on a personal level, but we are all from the same community, and I feel for them.
Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Jay.

Sorry to hear about the flooding, Jay. Jeez, it must be really bad when the tides come in; nowhere for the high river water to go but out sidewise. No Reversing Falls this week.

Are you saying that Route 1 is closed? I've been up that way several times and never thought the road was that close to water level --except at the Saint John bridge.

I do hope that you and your family are safe and don't have any property damage.

Tim

Thanks, Tim. We are quite a ways from the river and safe. Saint John is hilly and only the areas right next to the river are affected.
The province built a new 4 laner highway to connect Fredericton to Moncton, roughly following the old 112. This new one follows the Saint John river until Jemseg. This is a notorious low lying area, prone to flooding every year. They did not allow for enough elevation in this area and the waters have breached the highway. So, now the traffic is diverted thru Saint John Highway 7 to # 1 to Moncton. The diversion is 90 or so km.
Jay.

Can't believe the pics we are seeing on the news Jay. Sending our best vibes out to you folks. Take care of each other and keep safe.

Jay, I just sat down to ask how you are doing -- having seen the latest news.  It seems that you are OK yourself.  And this is good.  But there are so many that have lost do much, which is such a tragedy.  This pictures on the news look more like flooding out west  -- not something we see in these parts.

When the Premier helps with the sand bagging operations, I watch and hope this is more than a just a photo -op.  (I can be a cynical type sometimes.) He seems like he wants to help.  I have a cousin in Riverview and think she is safe from the flood at this point.

People have put in huge amounts of work to try to save their homes and will have huge amounts to clear up all the dykes once the flood waters recede.  Others will have many hours of rebuilding and renovations to re-establish their homes.

Yes, prayers and thought for all affected by this tragedy.

Mike

Thank you guys. It seems relief is not coming too soon. High water again tomorrow and maybe some drop in levels on Wednesday. For folks who are in the flood zone every hour counts. I don't think the authorities were prepared for this level of flooding. I have friends whose homes are under water and only time will tell the extent of the damage and if the insurance companies will cover.
Jay.

WOW ... shattered the old flood records and setting new ones. Be assured the rest of Canada cares and our hearts go out to you. Here's to a major recession ... water receding that is.

Homes underwater is bad enough but, Jay, did you see the guy on the news tonight who was home when 4 robbers came to visit in the middle of the night?  The only way in was by boat and the had a canoe. They were caught and charged in court this morning.  The lowest of humanity --- kicking people when they are down and have lost everything.  And the other side of the coin is shown by the likes of Uber Rob ,,, who has booked off work and running a free taxi service with his boat for anyone who can use the service.  Hope the worst of the flooding is over by this time tomorrow night.  The real tragedy of the whole thing will show up when the water recedes and the clean up gets underway. That will be huge !!

Mike