OXFORD Rising water in the Town of Oxford along the River Phillip and
Black River is causing headaches for homeowners and motorists, as basements
become flooded and roadways become submerged as the two converging waters
swell with last nights rain.
Water Street is closed and a four-person disaster response team is en route
as the waters of the Black River and River Phillip continue to rise.
Meanwhile, homeowners in the immediate area are contending with water.
My basement is flooded, Oxford student Braydon Mattinson said joining a
small group of curious onlookers on Water Street. My dad went down stairs and
was like Holy.
Schools in the area are closed as are a majority of the Water Street businesses
that neighbour the site. George Mosher, proprietor of GJDE Enterprises, was
among the few still open.
Ive been here 34 years and Ive rarely closed, Mosher said. Well stay
open unless it becomes a catastrophe.
In preparation for the worse Red Cross volunteers will set up a temporary
shelter in case evacuations are needed due to flooding.
The Town of Oxford has also mobilized components of its Emergency Response
Plan and is stressing residents strictly observe the road closures.
The RCMP are dispatching a 12-foot aluminum boat from the Amherst
Detachment.
"No-one has been evacuated as of yet, but the potential for flash flooding
is high and we're responding to a request for support from the Emergency
Measures co-ordinator for Cumberland County to have something in place as a
precaution," explained Joanne Lawlor, manager of disaster services for Nova
Scotia with the Canadian Red Cross.
The local Red Cross comfort centre will be located at the local Oxford Lions
Club and is expected to be operational by 2 p.m.
The team, along with a vehicle and trailer loaded with cots, blankets and
personal comfort items for a shelter have been deployed from the Canadian
Red Cross office in Amherst.
They're equipped initially to host up to 20 people. Additional materials and
volunteers can be dispatched from Amherst, Truro and other Red Cross centres
in Nova Scotia should the need arise.
Lawlor said every household needs to be prepared for emergencies including
evacuations. Tips from the Red Cross on how to plan and prepare for
disasters is available online at www.redcross.ca/prepare.
The Environment Canada weather station is reporting that it received 42.3
millimetres of rain yesterday.
Today's forecast is calling for freezing drizzle ending this afternoon and
falling temperatures.
Oxford is located about 35 kilometres south of Amherst along the Trans
Canada Highway and aside from flooding is know as Canada's Blueberry
Capital.
Rising water causes Oxford to begin closing streets
Rising water causes Oxford to begin closing streets
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Published on
February 14, 2008
- Published on January 4, 2010
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Christopher Gooding
OXFORD Water Street in Oxford is closed due to the rising water levels and threats of localized flooding in the town.
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