Archived - 2011 Manitoba flood: status of community rebuilding and numbers of displaced persons
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Severe flooding in Manitoba in 2011 caused serious damage to housing and infrastructure and led to people evacuating from 18 First Nations communities. The First Nations, together with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the Province of Manitoba, have since been rebuilding and working to return those still displaced.
Communities continue to be rebuilt so they are safe and flood-protected for remaining evacuees to return home.
The rebuilding effort reflects ISC's building back better emergency management recovery framework that centers on supporting the restoration of communities and assets in a manner that achieves two things:
- Reduces the vulnerability of First Nations communities to disasters
- Strengthens the First Nations' community resilience
Approximately 3,000 residents have returned to the Lake St. Martin area First Nations communities of Little Saskatchewan, Dauphin River, Pinaymootang and Lake St. Martin, as well as the Interlake communities of Peguis and Ebb and Flow.
As of May 1, 2021, 91 people remain evacuated from Peguis First Nation where recovery efforts continue.
In some cases, where evacuees with special needs require additional support, ISC covers hotel accommodation. The Canadian Red Cross has evaluated the situations of the evacuees staying in hotels.
Evacuees by First Nation
| First Nation | Hotel | Extended stay hotel | Private | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peguis | 1 | 0 | 90 | 91 |
The Government of Canada recognizes the difficult situation of those still evacuated and considers their health and safety a priority. We are also taking action to improve the quality of emergency services received by all First Nations communities.
Prevention and mitigation efforts are crucial in avoiding future situations such as those resulting from the 2011 Manitoba flood. To date, ISC has invested more than $80 million to protect Manitoba First Nations from future flooding.
This includes about $54.9 million to construct permanent dikes or make temporary dikes permanent at 11 Manitoba First Nations: Sioux Valley, Opaskwayak, Canupawakpa, Sandy Bay, Ebb and Flow, Lake Manitoba, O Chi Chak Ko Sipi, Little Saskatchewan, Poplar River, Berens River, and Kinonjeoshtegon. A permanent ring dike has also been in place at Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation since 2004.
Each First Nation has managed its respective flood recovery project. This includes the allocation of houses, which is the responsibility of the First Nation. Detailed questions about plans and status should be directed to the Band Council. Below is a general listing on the status of projects.
Lake St. Martin
There was extensive damage to housing and infrastructure in 2011. All housing and infrastructure needed replacement. To prevent future flooding, the entire community has been rebuilt in a new location at a higher elevation.
- Evacuation is over as the community has more homes than prior to flooding
- The new community has been built on new reserve land, above the record flood levels experienced in 2011
- 2 subdivisions have been built, which include road, water, sewage and utilities
- As of December 31, 2020, 345 homes at Lake St. Martin were complete and ready for occupancy
- Water treatment and sewage treatment facilities, including a new lagoon, have been completed
- A permanent K-Grade 12 school was completed on September 12, 2018. The school is able to accommodate up to 324 students and features a library, Indigenous language classroom, special education resource room, industrial arts and home economics classrooms, science laboratory, cafeteria, gymnasium and administrative spaces. Outdoor features include a track and field area, soccer pitch, baseball diamond, 2 play structures and an outdoor hockey rink
- A new public works garage and a fire hall have been built
Little Saskatchewan
- Evacuation is over as the community has more homes than prior to flooding
- New infrastructure has been built on new reserve land, above the record flood levels experienced in 2011
- Road construction is complete
- 170 new housing units were built
- A new water treatment plant, sewage lagoon and solid waste transfer station, which includes a recycling program, are complete
- Maintenance garages and fire hall construction are complete. Water and sewage trucks are operating
- A temporary First Nation administration office has been put in place while the permanent administration office is being planned
- A church to replace the original damaged church was completed in June 2019
Dauphin River
- Evacuation is over as the community has more homes than prior to flooding
- As of November 30, 2018, 69 housing units were ready for occupancy
- 4 teacherages were built
- A new water treatment plant, a wastewater lagoon, a solid waste transfer station, and water and sewer piping were completed
- A new K4-Grade 8 school was built
- A temporary administration office and health centre have been built, and permanent structures for these facilities are being planned
Pinaymootang First Nation
- Evacuation is over as the community has more homes than prior to flooding
- An 8 kilometre road was completed
- 109 houses were built to replace all units in flood-prone areas
Ebb and Flow
- Evacuation is over as the community has more homes than prior to flooding
- 29 new homes were built
- New housing is all in areas either protected by permanent dikes built during the 2011 flood or not affected by the flood
- Primary road work was completed in April 2014
Peguis
- ISC invested about $4 million as part of a 2010 ministerial commitment to protect the 75 homes in the community most vulnerable to flooding
- In 2012, 9 new homes were bought, 61 homes were repaired, and 10 homes were raised to higher elevation
- In 2014, ISC provided $11,403,900 in funding to establish up to 29 new homes, renovate existing homes where possible, demolish uninhabitable homes and build new subdivision site