Swan River orders evacuation as floods hit Parkland region
Some residents of a major hub in Manitoba's Parkland region have been asked to leave their homes and the province has requested the federal government send in the military as floodwaters threaten road access.
The Town of Swan River in western Manitoba issued a mandatory evacuation order on Wednesday afternoon for residents in flooded areas.
The evacuation order includes properties on streets like Duncan Crescent, as well as Heyes Street, Crescent Drive and Centennial Drive, in addition to Sixth Avenue North, Seventh Avenue North and River Park Drive.
All residents who are still in the mandatory evacuation area are asked to "please leave immediately," the town said in a social media update shortly after 4 p.m.
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"Emergency services may not be available or able to reach you if you do need to leave as time goes on."
The order was made in light of quickly increasing water levels in the Parkland region and a limited ability for emergency services to respond safely in the affected areas, the town said.
Residents should prepare to be away from their homes for up to three days and should pack all essential items, including medications, important documents, valuables as well as pets and pet supplies, the town said.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the town's veterans community hall. Evacuees are asked to report there so the town can assess the immediate needs. Food, beverages and temporary support are also available at the centre, while potential longer-term accommodations are still being determined.
Evacuees who have a place to stay and don't need help are still asked to notify the evacuation centre by showing up in-person or by texting 204-281-0374 or 204-281-3343 with their name, home address, and the number of people who evacuated from that address, the town said.
The town is still under a state of emergency that was called following major flooding earlier in June.
The same weather system that brought thunderstorms to the region Monday night dumped more rain Tuesday, leaving people scrambling to protect properties previously hit by flash floods.
The town had about 5,500 residents in 2024, according to a provincial population report.
'Tremendous power of water'
The province has asked the federal government to send the military to support the town's emergency response, a spokesperson confirmed to CBC News.
Travel isn't advised from Russell north to Mafeking and from Dauphin Lake west to the Saskatchewan border, Premier Wab Kinew said at a news conference in Winnipeg on Wednesday.
"If you are in the Parkland region of Manitoba, stay off the road," he said. "Even those that appear passable at the moment."
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Up to 50 roads are either damaged, covered in water or may have washed-out sections, including all roads headed to Duck Mountain Provincial Park, the province said in a flood bulletin Wednesday.
Nearly 200 people — such as campers, cottagers, residents and commercial operators — who are within the Duck Mountain Provincial Park have been registered with Manitoba Parks, the province said.
A section of Highway 10, near Pine River, is seen washed out by floodwaters. (Submitted by Manitoba Government)
The premier also told residents to shelter in place and not to travel on back roads to try and get around closures.
"We continue to see a lot of road failures and other impacts on infrastructure in the region, in areas even where the water may have moved on from its peak, and so we're seeing a delayed impact in terms of some of these roads."
Provincial, municipal and other agencies are working to ensure emergency responders can still access the region, and Kinew said "we will come to you in the situation of a medical emergency."
A helicopter was flown into the town on Wednesday afternoon to help coordinate "emergency activities," he said.
"We have not yet seen a peak in the town of Swan River," said Kinew. "So, that being a major hub for the region, tells you that there are still severe impacts due to overland flooding and flooding generally in the Swan Valley."
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An image of Highway 10, a major north-south highway in the province, was shown to be washed out by the flooding during the news conference.
Kinew said the image "speaks to the tremendous power of water," and how even well constructed major infrastructure is not safe from the flooding.
"The flooding that we're seeing in this region is unprecedented," he said. "It's coming less than a month after the last round of unprecedented flooding, so you can imagine the sort of terrible impacts that are happening here."
'I feel pretty trapped'
A pair of bandmates fear they may be stuck in Duck Mountain Provincial Park for another week.
Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre, two members of the Winnipeg band sundayclub, got to the Childs Lake campground within the park on Sunday with plans to spend a few days working on a new album in a yurt.
Nikki St. Pierre, left, and Courtney Carmichael are unsure how long they'll be stuck in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. (CBC)
St. Pierre said a power line fell during intense rain on Monday night, blocking the parking lot exit.
"So we had no ability to leave and no more fresh water," St. Pierre told CBC News on Wednesday.
After heavy rains all day Tuesday, Hydro workers flew in via helicopter on Wednesday to restore power.
The pair say all four ways out of the park are closed after being washed away. Others have tried to leave, but have all been turned around.
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"I feel pretty trapped," said St. Pierre. "We are kind of stuck a long ways from home."
A photo shot by a fellow camper shows one of the washed-out roads preventing Courtney Carmichael, Nikki St. Pierre and almost 200 others from leaving Duck Mountain Provincial Park. (Ryan Reykdal/Submitted)
The water station is also working again, but the bandmates say their food is dwindling. A nearby store can only be accessed by foot because the road is flooded.
"We are very lucky to have power and running water that is potable, which is great. We didn't have that this morning," Carmichael said.
They've been told road access might not be restored until July 9.
"The roads are quite literally caving in on each other, so the word has just been [to] shelter in place," said Carmichael.
"We're trying to keep positive, because it's really the only option right now."
This article, originally published by CBC News on July 01, 2026, was written by Ozten Shebahkeget with files from Ian Froese.