Many New Brunswick roads, homes and businesses were flooded on Wednesday as rain, melting snow and ice-choked waters forced waters to rise across the province.
Some residents are already starting to inquire about compensation but emergency officials say it’s too soon to begin assessing flood damage.
“At this point, we’re looking at making sure that everybody is safe and secure,” says Danny Soucy, New Brunswick's local government minister.
“We’re wanting to work with communities to ensure that they have what they need to go through what they possibly will be going through right now or in the near future, so we’re concentrating on that.”
In the past, the province has provided compensation for flood victims – most recently, those affected by flooding in Perth-Andover in 2012.
The province says that while some areas are coping with major flooding, it hasn’t reached the scale of the Perth-Andover flooding at this point.
“We’re seeing a number of smaller incidences, and I don’t want to minimize what’s happening to these people because it’s real, and we’re doing the best we can and the local authorities are doing the best they can in order to help them address their needs,” says Richard Keeley of River Watch New Brunswick.
While flooding is creating problems in several communities, there may be some relief on the horizon; emergency officials expect water levels to recede almost as quickly as they rose.
“The temperatures in the next few days are really going to help us,” says Keeley.
“We’re going back to seasonal temperatures, so below the double digits during the day and freezing at night, so that will slow down the thaw process.”
Officials say the issue of compensation will be considered once floodwaters recede and the resulting damage can be assessed.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
