Minnedosa Tribune
MEMORIES MADE
DARRELL NESBITT/MINNEDOSA TRIBUNE
When it comes to summer fun, it can be said Minnedosa Beach is the perfect place to jump, splash, and laugh on two water park playgrounds, including the Florence Bold Memorial Spray Park (shown) and the 100-person inflatable water park playground. No matter what area you plan to have family fun, you are making lasting family memories.
Minnedosa proves to be stronger together
Planning and preventative measures were a key part in the community rallying to help battle rising f lood waters
DONALD BERGER Minnedosa Tribune
As Minnedosa moves from flood protection to cleanup, municipal officials are looking back on an emergency that tested the community’s planning, communication and ability to respond quickly to a changing threat.
Municipal Emergency Coordinator Katianna Polejewski said the most remarkable part of the response was the way municipal staff, emergency personnel, businesses, provincial agencies and volunteers came together around a common purpose.
“I think Minnedosa had good systems in place and executed them well,” Polejewski said.
Heavy rainfall across western Manitoba earlier this month sent large volumes of water downstream through the Little Saskatchewan River system. Minnedosa declared a state of local emergency as provincial forecasts warned that water levels could rise substantially around the community. The forecast changed several times as officials received new information from upstream gauges and provincial hydrologists.
At a July 4 public meeting, Mayor Ken Cameron warned residents not to be reassured by calm weather or the appearance of the lake.
“The water is coming,” Cameron said at the time. “It’s going to get bad.”
The anticipated peak was later reduced, but Polejewski said uncertainty remained one of the most difficult aspects of coordinating the response.
SEE CREWS , PAGE 3
