Floods - Damage In Algoma Could Top $1 Million

MONDAY, APRIL 30,1979

Floods!

Damage in Algoma could top $1 million

BY ROB BOSTELAAR

Of The Star

Efforts were to be stepped up today at gaining government aid for flooded-out residents of Algoma, where damage by overflowing rivers could top $1 million.

Waters along the Goulais River continued to recede over the weekend and the community of Searchmont, isolated for four days, regained its link with the world late Sunday.

But a large section of the village of Iron Bridge was still under water today, with the swollen Mississagi River expected to continue at high levels until Tuesday or Wednesday.

In Iron Bridge, at least 15 houses and a 10-unit senior citizen's building have been evacuated. No one was sure how many people have been forced to stay with relatives or friends or at motels.

Reeve Harvey Eaket said "There's a million dollars in damage or more, maybe," and announced plans to seek government assistance.

Authorities said the flooding east of Sault Ste. Marie could worsen with either ' heavy rains or warm weather. The Mississagi and a tributary, the Little White River, drain a large section of eastern Algoma and snow still is present in northern sections.

Mr. Eaket said this morning waters near his home and at the bridge on the highway had dropped six inches.

"Just because it's gone down doesn't mean it won't to up again," he added. "In flooded area the water is spread over so much ground it will take longer to to down."

Although he's had no official word from housing authorities he estimates it would be months before evacuated residents can return to their homes.

"There's weeping tiles and septic tanks in the village and it's hard to say how much damage there is in the water system," Mr. Eaket said. "They can't be allowed to go back to their homes without septic tanks and drinking water."

"There's an awful lot of damage in basements." The reeve said that pressure of water coming through the ground had lifted the floor of the Untied Church manse.

The flooding has been responsible for one death.

Marguerite Gauthier, 27, of Sudbury, died after her car skidded on a flooded section of Highway 17 near Blind River Friday night and flipped over in 14 feet of water. Another motorist, involved in a separate, but similar mishap, escaped from his sinking car and swam to safety.

In Sault Ste. Marie the district manager of the ministry of natural resources (MNR), John Sellers, said he would try today to find out whether residents of the Searchmont-Goulais area are eligible for assistance.

"It's really just a matter of finding out what the process is, and then letting the people know," he said.

Algoma MPP Bud Wildman announced plans to urge three members of the provincial cabinet, Natural Resources Minister James Auld, Northern Affairs Minister Leo Bernier and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Thomas Wells, to provide financial relief.

In Iron Bridge the council is likely to make a request for help, Mr. Wildman said. Searchmont, Goulais and another flooding site, Eastman subdivision, located between Iron Bridge and Blind River, are in unorganized areas, and the MPP said he will ask the government to More 'DAMAGE IN' — page 2

2 THE SAULT STAR - MONDAY, APRIL 30,1979

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process requests through the northern affairs ministry.

Provincial police say Highway 556 to Searchmont was officially reopened at 6:30 p.m. Sunday an inspection by transportation ministry crews, although some vehicles made it through Saturday. Other roads remain closed, including the Ranger Lake Road — washed out severely in several places — and the Old Goulais Bay Road, where a Bailey Bridge has been chained off pending a structural inspection.

Jerry Smrcka, MTC district engineer, said this morning Highway 552 to Kirby's Corners and the Pines Shores Road in the Goulais Area are open.

The Old Goulais Bay Road, he said, should be opened tonight after shoulder flooding in the area is examined.

Algoma Central Railway service resumed Saturday after a two-day halt.

Most residents along the 48-kilometre stretch of the Goulais moved back to their homes over the weekend. At least 40 were forced to leave Thursday and Friday when waters rose 10 to 15 feet above normal spring levels.

"Some are still out," said Florent Desroches, owner of the Searchmont General Store. "Their basements are still flooded and they can't move back in."

The basement of one home was reported to have collapsed under the pressure of mud driven up by the river.

"We're waiting for assistance from the government," said Mr. Desroches. Searchmont residents were to meet with Algoma MP Dr. Maurice Foster this morning.

East of Sault Ste. Marie, Highway 129 between Thessalon and Chapleau is washed out in two locations and transportation ministry crews are expected to have it reopened tonight. The road between Iron Bridge and Elliot Lake is also closed because a Bailey bridge is reported to have shifted.

In Iron Bridge, 71 miles east of the Sault, the Mississagi came within 6 inches Sunday of the Highway 17 bridge.

Ministry of transportation and communications officials said the bridge and three sites where the river has flooded the highway were being closely watched.

Water was five to six feet deep outside some houses in the south section of the village. Some residents on slightly higher ground in the Mississagi Crescent area stayed in their homes, using gas and electric pumps and tubing to drain their flooded basements.

In Eastman subdivision east of Iron Bridge, at least one family was forced out of its house and others had flooded basements. Residents left cars on the highway after surveying driveways that looked more like ponds.

Mr. Eaket, the Iron Bridge reeve, said the flooding was the worst since 1928, when a quick thaw left the Mississagi jammed with logs from lumber operations.

He said water was eight to 10 feet above usual spring levels and 32 feet above the shallow levels of July, and added that flooding in 1969 and 1970 was far less serious.