Storm closes N.B. schools, stops ferries

A number of schools across New Brunswick were closed Tuesday because of flooding, and high winds are continuing to cause transportation problems around the Maritimes.

Many communities are cleaning up after a deluge of rain in the last 24 hours. St. Stephen received 173 millimetres between Sunday night and Tuesday morning, according to Environment Canada.

Another 123 mm fell in Grand Manan and 106 mm in Fredericton. Environment Canada also said a volunteer reported 185 mm of rain fell in Bayside.

That rain has caused the province's Emergency Measures Organization to issue a series of flood warnings.

Fredericton's flood level of six metres is expected to be surpassed on Wednesday. The St. John River is currently at 3.26 metres but is forecast to hit 6.7 metres.

The water levels are also approaching the flood point in communities such as Durham Bridge and Maugerville.

Dozens of people around Fredericton have been evacuated from their homes as a result of the flooding.

The evacuations have caused people living along River Street in Fredericton, Burtts Corner and Nashwaak Village to leave their homes. Also, residents in Fredericton and Perth-Andover have had to flee flooded basement apartments.

Red Cross opens shelter

As water levels continue to rise on the Saint John River in the Fredericton area, a RedCross shelter has opened at the University of New Brunswick campus for potential evacuees from within about a 50-kilometre radius.

Reception centres where people can gather to receive information are also operatingat Oromocto High School and the Burtts Corner Baptist Church.

The southwest corner of the province has also been particularly affected from St. Stephen to St. George. The Red Cross has been asked to set up a shelter at the Bonny River fire hall to serve people in those areas.

In Moncton, help is being provided to at least a couple of tenants from an apartment building on St. George Boulevard where a portion of the roof collapsed Tuesday morning. NB Power was reporting 6,731 customers without power at 11:54 a.m. The largest outage was in Moncton where 2,297 customers were withoutelectricity.

There were other significant outages in Fredericton, Rothesay and Sussex.

All schools are closed in New Brunswick's District 14, which stretches from Woodstock to northwestern New Brunswick. However, the district is keeping St. Mary's Academy in Edmundston open.

As well, three districts have closed schools in the St. Stephen, Oromocto and Fredericton areas.

District 1 has opted to close cole-Sainte-Anne and cole des Btisseurs in Fredericton.

The RCMP has issued a warning to motorists in central and southwestern parts of New Brunswick to be cautious when driving.

Staff Sgt. Gary Cameron said police have had several reports of accidents across the province on Tuesday.

"Cars actually rolled over because of the water. Cars just, basically, floating," Cameron said.

"So people need to use caution when using the roads and if they don't need to, then not to go out at all."

Two drivers were sent to hospital with serious injuries after a head-on collision on Highway 11 near Richibucto.

The highway remains closed and an accident reconstruction expert is on the scene.

Police are warning that flooding has caused water to cover certain roadways and has caused erosion to the shoulders of other roads.

Barricades have been erected in several places where road conditions are no longer safe. The RCMP are warning drivers not to bypass the roadblocks.

Confederation Bridge reopened

Northumberland Ferries cancelled its 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. crossings between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, but has resumed operations.

The Confederation Bridge reopened Tuesday morning after being closed to high-sided vehicles, such as transport trucks, for almost 24 hours.

Some grocery stores in Charlottetown have reported they are running short on some items.