Flooded Basements: A Tale of Two Cities
Residents in both Baltimore's Pigtown and the Municipality of Ethelbert in western Manitoba are grappling with the devastating consequences of flooded basements. In Pigtown, a leaky pipe in a vacant house triggered a crisis, while in Ethelbert, a torrential downpour overwhelmed the community.
Pigtown's Plumbing Predicament
For Kim Manuel, a longtime Pigtown resident, the shock of wading through two feet of water in her basement is a vivid memory. "My whole foot went in the water!" she exclaimed, describing the unsettling discovery. The source? A leaky pipe in an adjacent vacant property. Adding insult to injury, the property owner claimed squatters had stolen pipes and an air conditioning unit, potentially exacerbating the leak. City officials are investigating the claims, but residents are demanding accountability.
Manitoba's Monsoon Mayhem
Meanwhile, in Ethelbert, Manitoba, a local state of emergency has been declared after a relentless downpour dumped over 100 millimeters of rain. The deluge flooded crops, submerged roads, and inundated basements. Richard Evans, the community's emergency measures coordinator, stated that while the waters have receded in town, the creek remains high, continuing to impact roads outside the immediate area. The municipality is currently assessing the full extent of the damage.
The Aftermath: Costs and Concerns
Both communities face significant challenges. Pigtown residents are worried about the cost of repairs and the potential for mold growth. In Ethelbert, the focus is on cleaning up the widespread damage and restoring infrastructure. These incidents highlight the vulnerability of communities to both infrastructure failures and extreme weather events, underscoring the need for proactive measures to prevent future flooding.