The crest has arrived in Winnipeg. The south end of Winnipeg appears to be ready for the duration of the crest's stay in the city. Without significant rain, the crest is expected to stay for 3-4 days. With significant rain, river levels will take longer to begin their expected 4 week decline to normal safe levels.

Areas south of the Perimeter Highway are designated as evacuation zones as the crest comes near. The Z-Dike near Brunkild holds back water that could otherwise enter St. Norbert via the LaSalle River. As a precaution, the City planned to use the South Perimeter Highway as a secondary line of defence against waters that could flow into St. Norbert in the event of a Z-Dike failure. Mounds of earth were placed across the southbound lanes of Pembina Highway at the Perimeter overpass to prevent Pembina Hwy becoming a conduit for water into the City from St. Norbert. On May 6, the City's confidence in the Z-Dike was sufficient for it to decide to remove the pile of earth pictured in the third picture on the right.

A quick virtual trip through the King's Park, Bishop Grandin and Crescent Drive Park areas allow an appreciation of how high the Red River has risen. In the King's Park area, a woman sits, in the fifth picture on the right, with a companion on the last chunk of dry grass on the river side of the road. If she were to fall asleep for a few hours, she likely have a sunburn and clothes wet from Red River levels that will come up to swallow a little more of her resting spot. The sandbags in the foreground sit atop a sealed manhole to prevent river water from pouring into the local sewer system.

A look at the twin bridge spans at Bishop Grandin will reveal the levels the Red has achieved. Normal river levels reveal the majority of the bridge's concrete piers. Today, only the top portions of these piers remain above the river's surface.

Meanwhile, both Crescent Drive Golf Course and Crescent Drive Park sit closed to the public due to floodwaters which have swallowed much of the property. Water is clearly visible as it extends almost to the west fenceline of the golf course. Where golfers would normally be enjoying a quick 9 holes, Canada Geese have moved in to enjoy the newly created wetlands.

Across the Red off South St. Mary's Road, we encounter one very determined family off Normand Road. This road extends towards the Red River off South St. Mary's Road. The road has been built up with fresh gravel to allow residents to gain access to their homes. On the side of the road, one resident's back yard has already taken on significant water. The location pictured below is the first lot off of St. Mary's Road.

This family is an example to us all on the art of remaining calm when faced with a stressful situation. When we arrived here, these residents were concerned that we had "bad news" in the form of an evacuation order. When we informed them otherwise, they invited us to walk their dike and have a good look. The ninth photo on the right shows this family taking in some afternoon sun and having a beer on a beautiful Saturday afternoon while keeping an eye on the dike that protects their home.

One of the members of this family takes me to one side of his dike and begins to point out the things he has observed from his fortress on the river. "See that dock over there?, That came in this morning...I have no idea where that came from. Over there by the trees, I have been seeing beaver chewing on the Poplars...".

This view shows what is usually the long walk to the Red River for the residents of this home. "Underneath those lights is where we invite all our friends for a pig roast in the summer...looks like we'll need rafts for that this year."

Other houses along this road have water coming up on them as well. The sandbag sidewalk in front of the dike around this home is now submerged.

Please watch this space for additional updates. We will be bringing you more stories in the days ahead.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have stories and photos you can share with us. We'll get them on this site immediately upon receiving them. You can also telephone us to contribute your flood stories by calling our flood info hotline at 992-2203.

Good Luck in Your Sandbagging Efforts!!