Cape St. George residents assess damage after flood decimates roads, homes
The mayor of a western Newfoundland town shaken by a washout over the Easter weekend says families are now assessing damage to their homes after floodwaters ripped through areas near Cape St. George on Friday.
Flooding was so severe at some points, Mayor Stella Cornect worried it could have turned into a serious emergency for some people trapped in their homes on the far side of the road.
Cornect says she knew the heavy rain was about to turn ugly when water began pouring into her own basement on Friday.
"It looked like the brook … was literally coming through my house," Cornect said Monday morning.
"It was scary."
Dramatic videos of culverts floating downstream and guardrails disintegrating circulated online over the weekend. Now, photos of damaged house are also emerging. The full extent and cost of the damage in the community isn't yet clear.
Route 460 near Cape St. George was completely destroyed by heavy rain and flooding Friday, with loose culverts bashing through the railing as they washed away. (Department of Transportation and Infrastructure)
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Cornect said one family was evacuated by the town's fire department. Their home's foundation looks to be totally decimated, she said.
Other homeowners are grappling with ruined appliances and flooded basements.
Cornect said some homeowners don't have insurance, and it's not clear yet what damage will be covered. The province has asked residents to send photos of the damage to the council so they can assess potential funding for repairs.
The mayor said she's hoping provincial officials will meet with residents to see the extent of destruction for themselves.
"Hopefully they'll stick to their word," she said.
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She's still shaken by the severity of the flooding, which washed out a section of road that ultimately left a chunk of the town isolated, cut off from emergency services.
"That left approximately 650 people completely stranded," she said. "No way in, no way out."
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But a hasty response from the province meant work began immediately to fix the damage, and the road reopened Saturday afternoon.
Roadwork will continue this week, with the town waiting on a shipment of culverts before it can complete repairs.
This story was originally published for CBC News on April 1, 2024. Contains files from Newfoundland Morning
