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More Rain Forecast for Nova Scotia as Province Rebuilds After Damaging Floods
Hundreds of provincial workers and contractors are restoring roads and bridges after more than 200 millimetres of rain caused one death and widespread damage.
On Monday, rebuilding efforts accelerated across Cape Breton following a severe weekend storm that killed a 46-year-old Richmond County woman whose abandoned vehicle was discovered near a flooded bridge.
A slow-moving storm dumped more than 200 millimetres of rain starting Saturday, prompting Inverness, Victoria, and Richmond counties to declare local states of emergency as rising water destroyed bridges and roads.
At the peak of the flooding, more than 120 roads were closed or damaged, with about 44 still blocked as of Monday, according to Department of Public Works spokesperson Toby Koffman, communications director.
Emergency crews and neighbors utilized helicopters and Zodiac rescue boats to conduct daily wellness checks for residents completely cut off by washouts, including one woman who needed urgent cancer treatment.
Public Works Minister Fred Tilley characterized the flooding as a 'one in 100 year' storm, emphasizing that provincial rebuilding efforts now prioritize adapting infrastructure to handle future climate-related challenges.