Local State of Emergency declared in Morden

A local State of Emergency has been declared in Morden due to ongoing flooding in the area.

A local State of Emergency has been declared in Morden due to ongoing flooding in the area.

Several streets in the city are completely covered with water and officials are telling people to avoid Deadhorse Creek, as water is rising over the banks.

Morden Mayor Brandon Burley said around 50 homes were issued evacuation orders.

“Some didn’t leave right away and then called back in later to request assistance getting out,” said Burley, who added the higher the water rises, the harder it is for emergency crews to help with the evacuation.

He said one community was already isolated because a bridge was damaged last weekend and now the makeshift road is softening up and he said there is no guarantee that crews can get into that neighbourhood to help.

The city is giving residents sandbags to protect their properties and the Southern Emergency Response Committee has opened an Emergency Operations Centre in Morden.

“If you are in Morden, please respect the barricades that have been set up on the roadways – they are meant to block access to potentially hazardous area,” the committee said in a tweet online.