Province middle of the pack for flood preparedness

A new report from the University of Waterloo puts New Brunswick in the middle of the pack for flood preparedness, but the Conservation Council says that doesn't paint a full picture.

Louise Comeau, the director of climate change and energy solutions for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, said while the province received a C plus grade, there's still more work to be done.

"We need to move from a reactive point of view, or frame of reference, to proactive, long-term planning and prevention approach to these issues," said Comeau.

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Comeau said the province does well when reacting to an emergency situation, but doesn't do as well when planning for floods before they happen.

Sussex flooding

One New Brunswick community now dealing with flooding is Sussex. The geographic realities of the community, including the largely gravelfoundationthe town rests on, increases the likelihood of flooding, according to Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne.

"The majority of Sussex is at risk with this type of flooding," said Thorne.

The type of flooding varies in the town from rivers and streams overflowing their banks due to weather events, to ground water seeping into basements.

"There's no one cause for our floods and there's no one solution," said Thorne.

Shift - NB8:00Fighting flooding

Sussex Mayor Marc Thorne says berms and rebates are under consideration to protect homes and businesses from future flooding

A proactive approach

The town has taken a proactive approach to flooding in recent years.

"We have initiated or created a rebate policy whereby homeowners within the community, if they would undertake anything at all, anything they could do to mitigate that type of flooding[would makethem eligible]," said Thorne.

The rebate is capped at $3,000, which Thorne said council is considering raising, and includes funding for everything from landscaping to raising homes above the flood level.

Thorne said anotheridea that's been floated is installing berms, which are essentially dirt barriers between rivers and properties, an expensive solution.

"With everything you do there's going to be a reaction somewhereelse. If you install a berm in one part of the town, it is going to affect what happens [elsewhere,]" said Thorne.

Theone area of town where hebelieves a berm would be appropriate isthe commercial district on the west side of Sussex.

"They're slab on grade. They don't have full foundations and we do have an opening that I think we could seal fairly easily," said Thorne.

Thorne said the project would cost $900,000.