History of flooding in Canada

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The history of flooding in Canada is marked by events caused by excessive rainfall and excessive snowmelt. Flood events have had a significant effect on the various regions of the country.

[edit] 1894 Fraser Valley flood

The largest flood of British Columbia's Fraser River on record occurred in May 1894, when rapid snowmelt caused river levels to rise dramatically, triggering flooding from Agassiz to Richmond. The flood was significant in both height and breadth.^[1]

[edit] 1948 Fraser Valley flood

In 1948, the second largest Fraser River flood of record occurred. By this time, the lower Fraser Valley was a highly developed agricultural area, with commercial and industrial development and the beginnings of residential development. As well, two transcontinental rail lines and the Trans-Canada Highway had been built through the valley, and the province’s major airport had been established in Richmond. Personal and financial impact was much greater than in 1894. Thousands of people were displaced and infrastructure, including bridges and roads, was significantly damaged.^[2]

[edit] 1950 Red River flood

The 1950 Red River Flood was a devastating flood that took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on May 8, 1950. In that year, the Red River flooded the Red River Valley. Winnipeg was ill prepared for such a huge swell of water. Eight dikes gave way and flooded much of the city. Four of eleven bridges were destroyed and nearly 70,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes and businesses^{[citation needed]}. Only one person, Lawson Ogg, lost his life to the flood but the final tally in damage was over $600 million^[3].

See also: 1950 Red River Flood

[edit] 1986 Winisk flood

On May 16, 1986, the Northern Ontario community of Winisk was completely washed away. A spring ice jam on the Winisk River caused flood waters to reach as far as six kilometers inland, sending every structure but two into Hudson Bay.

See also: Winisk Flood, 1986

[edit] 1996 Saguenay flood

The Saguenay Flood (French: Déluge du Saguenay) was a series of flash floods that hit the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec, Canada on July 19 and 20, 1996.

Problems started after two weeks of constant rain, which severely engorged soils, rivers and reservoirs. The Saguenay region is a geological graben, which increased the effect of the sudden massive rains of July 19, 1996. In the span of a few hours, eleven inches fell on the region, the equivalent to the amount of rain usually received in a month.

See also: Saguenay Flood

[edit] 1997 Red River flood

Obelisk in Grand Forks commemorating the 1997 flood. The flood's high water mark is indicated by the line around the smooth section just below the point of the obelisk. Previous historic flood levels are also represented.

The Red River Flood of 1997 was a major flood that occurred in April and May 1997, along the Red River of the North in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Southern Manitoba. It was the most severe flood of the river since 1826.

The flood reached throughout the Red River Valley, affecting the cities of Fargo and Winnipeg, but none so greatly as in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, where floodwaters reached over 3 miles (5 km) inland, inundating virtually everything in the twin communities and causing US$2 billion in damages.

See also: 1997 Red River Flood

[edit] 2008 Saint John River flood

During the month of April and May a rapid melt of snow set by an unusually severe winter caused the Saint John River to reach a height off 8.6 meters matching and in some places surpassing the flood of the river in 1973 which caused CDN$ 11.9 million dollars in damages. It is the highest level of the Saint John river recorded.

See also: 2008 Saint John River Flood

[edit] External links

• Flooding events in Canada: British Columbia - Environment Canada site. Retrieved on June 6, 2007.

[edit] References