Glen Sowers is getting his generator up and running as water creeps closer to his home in Sheffield, N.B., along the St. John River.
“Hopefully we don’t have to use it,” he said Saturday.
But with rain in the forecast for the next couple of days, he may have to.
“The backwater is coming up now, too. We wouldn’t have a problem until the backwater gets up to meet the river water,” Sowers said. “We’d be in a little bit of trouble if the backwater gets up to the same level. Right now, it’s not too big of a problem.”
The province’s Emergency Measures Organization said it is continuing to monitor water levels. For the time being the water levels are steady.
Route 690 was closed Saturday. People living nearby are used to the road closing, but never this early in the season.
Stan Bulmer is another Sheffield resident who is keeping a close eye on the water levels.
“If we get another 10 to 15 millimetres (of rain) it’s not bad, but if we get 50 to 100 that’s concerning,” Bulmer said. “It’s still a little early. If we get another week or two and get by, we’ll be all right.”
The water is causing problems for homeowners, but it’s a welcome sight for birdwatchers.
Don Gibson stops by the flooded area a couple of times a week to see ducks and geese enjoying the water.
“We feel sorry for the people that live down here and any of the troubles they have, but it does make for entertainment for us to come down and look around,” Gibson said.
The EMO is encouraging residents near high water to use caution, as the water is cold and currents are strong.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford
