PERTH-ANDOVER, N.B. -- They're not out of the woods yet, but residents of the flood-threatened community of Perth-Andover in northwestern New Brunswick can breathe a bit easier.
Village spokeswoman Justine Waldeck said Saturday that water levels dropped more than a metre overnight.
A monster ice jam on the St. John River above the dam at Grand Falls has yet to break up and that remains a concern. But Waldeck said when the breakup does happen, the drop in water levels might help lessen the impact.
"Right now it doesn't look like it is posing too much of a threat on us just because our water levels have decreased so much," she said.
"If we were to get an influx, the river here could probably handle it now."
Waldeck said municipal officials would meet Saturday afternoon to determine whether a voluntary evacuation request affecting 49 residences should be lifted.
The request was put in place Wednesday amid concerns the St. John River would flood the village.
Perth-Andover experienced severe flooding in March 2012, and Waldeck said mindful residents have been very co-operative since the voluntary evacuation request was issued. If lifted, Waldeck said residents could return home immediately.
She said the village has been working closely with NB Power to monitor the river.
"They told us that we should see it slowly creeping back down, so that was a positive direction for us," she said.
New Brunswickers have been on edge for days as ice-choked rivers threaten to spill their banks.
The town of Sussex began the arduous task of cleaning up Thursday after the Kennebecasis River reached heights some people said they've never seen.
