Fredericton Floods During the Pandemic
According to River Watch, Fredericton is forecasting to hit or exceed its flood stage of 6.5 meters Wednesday, April 14, 2020.
Friday’s snowstorm followed by heavy rain into early Tuesday morning has caused worry in the community and there is still ice in the river at the head pond.
Each spring Fredericton residents and business owners living near the beautiful St. John river anxiously watch the waters rising praying their homes and community don’t flood as they have in previous years. This spring, the city, and the entire country have faced even further challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The country is asked to adhere to strict social distancing policies. This has caused all non-essential services to close their offices and storefronts, and some people have lost their jobs if they were not fortunate enough to work from home. All in the attempt to flatten the curve of this devasting, fast-spreading virus.
Dan Meyers, General Manager of the Crowne Plaza said, “preparing for this year’s flood is different because we had to lay off a lot of staff and have fewer bodies to prepare for this flood.”
These unprecedented times have caused distress and anxiety. Mental health for many of us in the community is already compromised and fragile due to stringent restrictions in place and the financial impacts. We do our best to flatten the curve, take the rules seriously, and remain positive. Despite these efforts to keep a positive state of mind, the possibility of flooding is causing those who live and work in the flood line, like my household, further distress.
My partner, Andrew Russell, has had high flood levels in his basement over the past two years. He was laid off due to the strict measures and has had to purchase thousands of dollars’ worth of sump pumps to try to mitigate possible damages of flooding. Many others in the flood zone have similar situations.
Russell said, “This year’s flood is different from previous year’s flooding because it is compound stress with COVID-19…. Times are already financially and mentally tough.”
Our community is strong and has always come together during challenging times. The community should remain vigilant towards the rising waters and still maintain the best practices of social distancing while managing any flooding.