Floodwaters

In the middle of June, Swan River and surrounding communities received an unbelievable amount of rain which led to severe overland and river flooding. Two weeks later an even wider spread area received another large amount of rain. Swan River was hit once again, along with many other surrounding communities. This led to the City of Brandon along with fifty municipalities and six First Nations declaring a local state of emergency. The damages are inconceivable as 30,000 vehicles, hundreds of homes, businesses and agricultural fields were destroyed sending insurance claims soaring to $925 million. For Manitoba this was just on the heels of the 2025 summer wildfires which killed two people, displaced 33,000 others, burned 4% of the province's land mass and cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars.  

The cause of flooding is usually a result of heavy snow fall and the spring runoff from the thaw. The heavy rainfall came without warning; the people didn't stand a chance. One of the saddest things is how hard the Dauphin hospital has been hit. They had to relocate the entire hospital and now are faced with extensive water damage. Hundreds of roads are just gone; huge sections were just ripped out with the fierce water flow. The loss of homes, grain land, vehicles and animals is unbelievable. For many they are now walking back into their homes and will have to assess and start to repair the damage.  

Brandon had lots of time to prepare for the water. They had built permanent dikes around the city riverbanks after the 2011 flood. First Street had a double layer of sandbags as did various places throughout the city. Somehow, they managed to keep the water contained. The river just exploded with water and looked like one massive lake. 

The floodwaters are now receding. The city workers are starting to pick up the sandbags, and the mess is now revealed. What a daunting job for those that have to fix Mother Nature's recent disaster. Dinsdale park is a very popular park for the city. It is one of the few parks along the river. It was totally under water. When I drive by on First Street, I can now see the docks in a pile, many dead trees along with sand and silt on the grass. I am hopeful the trees that have survived several previous floods continue to do so. The trees have been a huge loss in the last few floods. 

When I knew the water was coming, I knew the city would take care of it. In 2011 Brandon had what they called "the worst flood in 400 years". Since then, there has been flooding in 2014, 2017 and now 2026. The permanent dikes are money well spent. They always put a dike on the Grand Valley Road access as the first step. That is the most important effort to protect the Corral Center. We just know that First Street will be one lane as the east side is low and gets flooded quickly. It just happens; the emergency flood plan is implemented. Homes and businesses are protected from the water. 

So, what could possibly be the lesson in all of this loss. I always believe in every situation good or bad, there are lessons to be learned. The northern community people went to bed and woke up to their basements full of water or worse. Some were running for higher ground or found themselves on an island cut off from the world. Disaster is a lesson in what? During disaster there is so much humanity that happens. People helping others in such a dire time of need. Disaster also teaches us to never take anything for granted, the reality is, in a blink of an eye it could all be gone.