Flooding forces evacuations and strains sewers on waterlogged Prairies

GAINSBOROUGH, SASKATCHEWAN, – Residents of flooded communities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are looking to the sky for relief after heavy rain forced evacuations and swamped highways.

Firefighters went door-to-door in Gainsborough, Sask., last night advising everyone to leave after water rose on the last available road out of the village.

The mayor of Gainsborough says dozens of homes and businesses were flooded and that it was “going to be a disaster.”

WestJet cancelled flights in and out of Brandon, Man., when water covered the facility’s access road.

Officials in Regina have scheduled a news briefing for later this morning at the city’s Waterworks Building.

Regina’s fire department tweeted last night that the sewage system was working at full capacity, and that residents should delay showers, baths, and even flushing toilets to prevent additional strain on the system.