Assessment of Flood
Damage

Four days after rapidly changing weather conditions caused extensive flooding in the Truro area, Department of Transportation and Public Works personnel are assessing damage and tallying costs.

The flooding of the Salmon River and its tributaries last weekend caused the immediate closure of more than 20 roads in Colchester County. Most of the damage was concentrated in Truro, Brookfield and Bible Hill.

Today, only Park Street remains closed, and crews are working to open it as soon as possible.

Kevin Caines, acting district director for the area, estimates the total cost of the department's emergency response to be in the range of $150,000, noting that once the cleanup is over next week there will be little long-term damage to the road system.

"Most of the damage is concentrated on the shoulders where the water ran off," said Mr. Caines. "What saved the roadbeds was the fact the flood was short-lived, and the quick response of crews -- they were able to remove ice blocks almost immediately after the water began to recede."

The fact the roadbeds are still frozen also reduced the possibility of collapse.

Mr. Caines complimented Transportation and Public Works crews and the private sector help for their quick response. "Many of these people worked round the clock for three days," he said. "They kept their cool in some tough working conditions."

George O'Leary, operations supervisor and the person co-ordinating much of the effort, also has nothing but praise for the people involved. "It's a pretty good feeling to know you can count on your operators when you need them," he said.

Department bases outside the area lent the Truro operation four graders and three extra loaders to enable the quick response. Seven privately owned gravel trucks were hired for shoulder work (department equipment carries sand this time of year). In addition, several private trucks from the South Colchester Trucking Association and other local contractors were involved in road clearing.

Transportation and Public Works gave the municipality's Emergency

Measures Organization the sand needed to berm around the North River, and also worked closely with local authorities to ensure access for fire and other emergency vehicles where roads were temporarily impassable.