Terry Halifax
Northern News Services
Hay River (May 14/01) - There were some scary moments and a few wet feet, but this litter damage despite what flood watch veterans say was a very unusual breakup on the Hay River.
"Experienced people who have been doing this for 15 or 20 years are saying this is the first time they've seen this," said Robert Bouchard, emergency measures coordinator.
The ice and high water rushed into the West Channel in the early morning hours, spilling over a low point in the berm, Bouchard said.
"Friday morning (May 4), we had a situation in the West Channel. The waters got quite high and we did have a little splash of water over the berm, but at about that same time, the pressure release was basically going through the east channel, which lowered the levels there," Bouchard said.
"The ice continued to congregate in both channels and we had a jam all of Friday and Saturday morning from the golf course to the Pine Point bridge."
He said that jam let go Saturday night with high waters flowing from the south. The ice backed up into the snye, near the airport, and along the government docks, where fishermen dry dock their boats.
"No damage was seen at any of those locations," he said. "All-in-all it was a good year; we didn't have too much damage."
The flood watch committee held a de-briefing session in council chambers last Tuesday night to share information and discuss the breakup.
The committee agreed they need more water level indicators to gain advance notice on the flow of the river
The committee also discussed increasing the height of the West Channel berm, changing the location of the warning siren at West Channel and a training exercise with radios.
