Much of island under an “orange” warning, with Environment Canada forecasting significant rainfall to last until Monday

**Cape Breton Counties Declare States of Emergency Amid Severe Flooding**

The municipalities of Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria have declared states of local emergency following heavy rainfall that has caused widespread flooding, road washouts, and transportation disruptions across Cape Breton.

The emergency declarations were issued jointly on Saturday as municipal officials, Department of Public Works crews, and emergency responders began working to assess damage to critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges.

Jerron Hawley, regional manager for Emergency Services for Western Cape Breton, emphasized that public safety is the primary concern. “People should stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary,” Hawley said in a statement. “Reducing traffic in affected areas will help keep residents safe and allow emergency crews to respond quickly and efficiently.”

While the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) experienced flooding in areas such as Sydney, Beechmont, Loch Lomond, and Benacadie, it did not declare a state of local emergency. CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke stated late Saturday that the municipality’s emergency command center had moved to a monitoring status, noting that previously closed roads in the region had reopened.

Environment Canada has placed much of Cape Breton under an “orange” warning, indicating severe and widespread weather with significant impacts. The agency reported that a slow-moving system is producing rainfall rates of 20 millimeters per hour or higher. While the heaviest rain is expected to taper off Sunday morning, showers are forecast to continue through Monday.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston visited a command center in Port Hawkesbury on Saturday to meet with officials. “Crews are assessing the damage, but we won’t know the full extent until after the storm ends and the floodwater recedes,” Houston stated. The Premier added that the province is prepared to deploy the Nova Scotia Guard and relocate crews and equipment from other parts of the province to assist with repairs once the storm passes.

To assist residents in Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria counties, as well as the Town of Port Hawkesbury, a toll-free support line (902-625-7888) will open Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This line is intended for non-emergency issues related to the flooding; residents requiring immediate assistance are instructed to call 911.

The Nova Scotia Department of Emergency Management has advised residents in the affected areas to avoid non-essential travel, monitor 511 Nova Scotia for road conditions, and refrain from driving through flooded or barricaded roads.

Article and image source: saltwire.com