'It's very heartbreaking out here': Some in Victoria County still cut off after last week's storm

Some Nova Scotians in northern Cape Breton have been able to get around storm-damaged roads by boat, but in another part of Victoria County, others are still cut off and waiting for relief.

"It's very heartbreaking out here," said Bev MacAskill, who lives on Oregon Road just off the Cabot Trail. "We have no way to get out except by helicopter."

MacAskill and her 78-year-old father, Angus, live in separate houses next to the North River, where rainfall last week washed away a bridge that connects the MacAskills and a couple farther up the mountain.

MacAskill said her house is fine, but her father's basement filled with water and the riverbank took away one of his outbuildings.

Another shed is now perched atop the bank. One more storm and MacAskill said the North River could take out her father's house.

"It's unbelievable, the damage that's done," she said.

Like those in nearby Tarbotvale, the MacAskills have used a plastic milk crate and ropes to get supplies after rain washed out the bridge.

MacAskill's partner, Darren Barron, was away at work when the bridge washed out and hasn't slept at home in a week.

On Sunday, Barron came across a narrow part of the river by rope, but the bank became unstable on his way back later that day. 

The area got more rain Monday night and the river is running fast again, said MacAskill.

"My father calls him [Barron] the Miracle Man," MacAskill said. "I wouldn't want him to come across that again."

MacAskill said she is thankful a helicopter is ready to help, if needed. She said local officials have been helpful, but the province needs to move faster to reconnect Oregon Road.

"I don't know what they're going to do," she said. "I know it's hard everywhere, but we've been out a week."

In Tarbotvale, flood waters cut Rebecca Barron's driveway in two and took out part of the Tarbotvale Road.