‘We’re bracing for it’: North Bay and area residents concerned amid Lake Nipissing flooding
North Bay and Callander residents in northern Ontario who live on the Lake Nipisisng shoreline are bracing for floods coming from the lake.
Northern Ontario residents who live on the Lake Nipissing shoreline are bracing for flooding. April 22, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
A flood warning remains in effect for the shoreline in North Bay, Callander and the Parks Creek watershed.
With the help of some friends, Jeff Poeta builds a barrier of sandbags protecting what’s left of his property from rising water levels.
“We lost all this about three to four days ago,” he said, pointing to the rising water levels in his backyard.
“We probably will get a little bit more washed out. Let’s hope we can save that.”
The water eroded onto his property. Now with his wall complete, it’s a waiting game to see if it will hold and what Mother Nature has to bring.
“It has come higher up in our property. We’re going to have to wait and see,” he said.
Jeff Poeta with the help of some friends has built a barrier of sandbags to protect what’s left of his property from rising water levels. April 22, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario/From video report)
Rainfall recorded by the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) two weeks ago was equal to the normal monthly total for all of April.
With the high water level on the lake, westerly winds are pushing waves towards the shoreline.
“My friend, she’s 76. She’s got sciatica and she’s freaking out because the water is going to come in,” said John Van Niekerk, who is helping a friend sandbag her property on Sunset Boulevard.
“Anyways, I came to help.”
The forecast is calling for more rain to arrive Wednesday and a large storm to blow in this weekend, leaving homeowners on Lake Nipissing to ‘beef up’ their barricades.
“It’s going to dump approximately 75 millimetres of rain altogether over three days. That’s a very large storm event,” said conservation authority flood warning coordinator Chitra Gowda.
“We’re keeping a close eye on that. We’re running the pumps.”
A flood warning was issued Friday for the Lake Nipissing shoreline in North Bay, Callander and the Parks Creek watershed. (Supplied/North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority)
The City of North Bay has opened two sandbag filling locations at Sunset Park and Champlain Park for anyone who needs extra protection.
North Bay area residents filling sandbags on April 22, 2024 at one of two filling stations the city has set up amid rising water levels and flooding concerns along the shorelines of Lake Nipissing. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
“We’re bracing for it now,” said Poeta.
“Once we get this last load in, we’ll sit back.”
The conservation authority is urging everyone to stay away from banks as they can be slippery when combined with fast-moving cold open water.
Area residents and visitors, especially those in low-lying areas, are encouraged to monitor the conditions as they develop and take proper precautions during times of high flow.
If residents have a flood emergency, they are asked to contact their municipality and those who live in an unincorporated township should contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry – North Bay District.
As part of the NBMCA Flood Forecasting and Warning Program, staff will continue to monitor weather and watershed conditions and update this message if needed based on the changing weather/streamflow conditions.
Staff told CTV News they remain in contact with municipalities and other partners as required.
A sandbag barrier set up along the Lake Nipissing shoreline amid high water levels and flooding concerns. April 22, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ukraine marks its third Easter at war as it comes under fire from Russian drones and troops
As Ukraine marked its third Easter at war, Russia on Sunday launched a barrage of drones concentrated in Ukraine's east, wounding more than a dozen people, and claimed its troops took control of a village they had been targeting.
Maple Leafs eliminated from NHL playoffs with Game 7 OT loss to Bruins
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.