The RM of Stuartburn has finally lifted their Local State of Emergency after what residents are calling one of the most destructive floods in living memory.

“In my seven years here, this is definitely the worst one,” offers Chief Administrative Officer Lucie Maynard. From speaking with her fellow residents, Maynard gets the impression that the most recent high water event caused more damage even than the flood of 2002.

“I guess back then there was more of a threat along the Roseau River,” she says of the former flood. “We didn’t have that so much this year but it was all of our other tributaries that were major concerns. It seems we have a lot of residents along those tributaries so it affected a larger total area.”

Current damage estimates in Stuartburn sit around $750,000. While all parts of the municipality have been accessible for a couple of weeks now, Maynard expects it will still be a matter of months before all roads and infrastructure are totally restored. The worst of the flooding may be behind them, but residents’ senses are still heightened.

“We are obviously watching the forecast and hoping that we don’t get any more significant rainfall,” states Maynard. “Because I don’t think we are anywhere near repaired enough to accommodate more rain.”

The local state of emergency was first put into effect on June 8 and Council voted to lift it Tuesday evening.