Manitobans in Red River Valley still grappling with 'devastating' flooding over windy weekend

Just two months ago, Chao Shen bought his dream house in the St. Adolphe, Man., area and set to work making it a home where he and his wife could raise a family.

Now, it's more of a nightmare, with his new home's basement underwater.

"I'm feeling sad, very sad, because I just bought this March 8 and I spent $40,000 on renovations, and now it's all flooded," he said.

On Friday, Shen returned to his house in the community just south of Winnipeg, after being evacuated from the area due to overland flooding.

He came home to find his entire basement full of water, nearly up to the main floor.

Since the 1997 "Flood of the Century," all communities in the Red River Valley have been protected by ring dikes.

Shen's house sits just outside St. Adolphe's dike.

He said he had heard about Manitoba's great flood of 1997, but thought his home would be safe from flooding. Now he's worried he'll have to move his house to higher ground.

He's not yet sure if insurance will cover the damage.

Shen spent much of the last two days attempting to pump water out, but can't keep up with it.

"I just wish the raining can stop," he said.

Chris Ewen, the mayor of the municipality of Ritchot, which includes St. Adolphe, says it's a challenging time for people in the Red River Valley.

While it dodged the worst of the latest weather system to pass through the province, the region saw some light rain on Friday and Saturday. 

Gusting winds have also continued in southern Manitoba, which Environment Canada warned on Friday could drive up water levels in flood-stricken areas.