‘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
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.