Beryl remnants lead to heavy rain and flooding in parts of Nova Scotia
A flash flood alert was issued for Digby, Annapolis, Kings and Hants counties as remnants of Hurricane Beryl swept through parts of Nova Scotia on Thursday.
The province issued the alert at 8:30 p.m. AT.
“Heavy rain caused by thunderstorms passing through areas of the province are causing some localized flooding and washouts of roads,” the province said in its alert. “Flash flooding has been reported. Residents are advised to listen to local forecasts and use caution if traveling.”
Scott Hamilton, the chief of the Kentville Volunteer Fire Department, said there was flooding in some parts of the Annapolis Valley town.
He said the fire department has helped with the voluntary evacuations of people from around 10 homes, responded to some car crashes, and helped with road closures.
“There’s a significant amount of water down this time with the amount of run-off that we’ve had … we are slowly starting to see it subside — slowly, but it is starting,” said Hamilton.
In the neighbouring town of Wolfville, Mayor Wendy Donovan said officials are telling people to stay home.
She said there is flooding on several streets, more than she remembered from past flooding incidents. She said the flooding was particularly bad on part of Main Street and at a new development on Maple Street.
“Last Saturday’s rain saturated the ground. We had a huge amount of rain today in a very short period of time during high tide, so it was the worst possible combination of events,” said Donovan.
Brett Tettanish, chief of the Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department in Hants County, told CBC News on Thursday night his station was busy responding to flooding. He is advising people to stay in their homes if it’s safe to do so, but if not they should call for assistance.
“It’s a little bit of an emergency situation,” Tettanish said.
Earlier in the day, Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for the Annapolis Valley, Hants County and northern mainland Nova Scotia.
“It kind of started out sprinkles in the area I was driving through and then it was just a heavy downpour through the whole county,” Shayna Weaver Prall of Middleton, N.S., told CBC News.
Weaver Prall documented some of the flooding she encountered late Thursday afternoon on Highway 362 and on Dodge Road. She posted videos to social media to show others the rapid flooding and to advise people to drive with caution.
“I’ve seen a lot of roads washing away and culverts can’t handle the amount of water they’re getting,” Weaver Prall said.
“There’s definitely a lot of cars struggling in parking lots just because they’re so overrun with water.”
Weaver Prall said she saw work crews out trying to get the water under control, as well as police blocking off some of the badly flooded roadways.
Denise Pothier was out for a meal at Frank and Dora’s Takeout in Cornwallis, N.S., when the flooding began.
“We were eating at a table and it just kept coming up further and further and then it hit in the restaurant,” said Pothier, who was in the area for a camping trip.
Pothier said she didn’t realize how intense the flooding was until she looked at the parking lot.
“I was just thinking of the people who own the restaurant but then when I turned and saw our cars, I thought, oh my gosh, the cars are going to start to slide and go off the cliff in the back,” Pothier said.
Pothier said the water had reached halfway up her tires by the time she managed to get in and drive away.
“It was a little nerve-rattling.”
Frank and Dora’s Takeout posted photos of the flood damage inside the restaurant on Thursday evening.
“Sadly we will be closed for a few days as we navigate cleanup from the worst culvert breach to date. Thanks to all who have already reached out and expressed your concern,” the post read in part.
