- Swift Current's streets were subjected to a heavy dose\ of water today, but as the tide subsided, the City of Swift Current gave an update on conditions.
BACKGROUND: Downtown Swift Current Under Flood Waters
"This happens every time we get a big blast of rain," Mitch Minken, the City of Swift Current general manager of infrastructure and operations, said. "This is by far the worst one."
Around 7 p.m. on June 18, he said that the water should dissipate within the next couple of hours, assuming that more rainfall did not arrive in the city.
Areas which experienced flooding include, but are not limited to, the following:
The corner of 1st Ave Northeast and Cheadle Street is also the scene of storm drain construction, which was not fully complete.
"They were just working on pouring the curbing," Minken said. "The system would have probably got some water away, but certainly [it] couldn't work as it was designed to as we're still in construction there."
He commented that there are very few options that the City can turn to in order to prevent flooding like this, but will continue searching for ways to mitigate the issue in the future.
Minken advised residents to avoid areas of the city where excessive amounts of water are located.
Swift Current Online will have updates on damages occurring from the flooding in the near future.
"This happens every time we get a big blast of rain," Mitch Minken, the City of Swift Current general manager of infrastructure and operations, said. "This is by far the worst one."
He mentioned that the over two inches of water the city received just couldn't be drained faster than it came down.
"When we get downpours like this, no storm system can manage its way through it."Around 7 p.m. on June 18, he said that the water should dissipate within the next couple of hours, assuming that more rainfall did not arrive in the city.
Areas which experienced flooding include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 4th Ave Northeast and Herbert Street
- 1st Ave Northeast and Cheadle Street
- Between 8th and 2nd Northwest
- A large portion of North Railway Street West
- The Parking lot of the E.I. Wood Building
The corner of 1st Ave Northeast and Cheadle Street is also the scene of storm drain construction, which was not fully complete.
"They were just working on pouring the curbing," Minken said. "The system would have probably got some water away, but certainly [it] couldn't work as it was designed to as we're still in construction there."
He commented that there are very few options that the City can turn to in order to prevent flooding like this, but will continue searching for ways to mitigate the issue in the future.
Minken advised residents to avoid areas of the city where excessive amounts of water are located.
Swift Current Online will have updates on damages occurring from the flooding in the near future.
