Event CategoryDisaster
Event GroupNatural
Event SubgroupMeteorological - Hydrological
Event TypeFlood
PlacePerth-Andover NB
Event Start DateMarch 23, 2012
Event End DateMarch 25, 2012
CommentsPerth-Andover NB, March 23-25, 2012. The Village of Perth-Andover declared a state of emergency on March 23. The village of roughly 1,770 residents was forced to evacuate approximately 500 people living along a four-kilometre section the St. John’s River on March 24. Within the nearby Tobique First Nation community, approximately 20 people were evacuated to a school gymnasium and six homes were damaged by floodwaters. Public Safety Canada’s regional office reported that approximately 200 homes and businesses were damaged, including those of the Tobique First Nation. The province’s Emergency Measures Organization indicated that unseasonably hot weather caused rapid snowmelt, resulting in an ice jam that was to blame for the river breaching its banks. Andover Elementary School and Southern Victoria High School were both closed due to damages from the floodwaters. The Red Cross used Perth-Andover Middle School as an emergency evacuation site. Perth-Andover hospital also sustained damages; patients were relocated to the Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville and Grand Falls General Hospital, while some were discharged home. Service New Brunswick’s temporary location in Perth-Andover offered free well-water bacterial testing for private well owners who were impacted by the flood. Health Canada was responsible for contacting well owners with information on potentially harmful contamination in their water, whereas Environment Canada as well as local authorities were responsible for notifying remaining well owners of the absence of bacteria in their water. New Brunswick’s provincial government offered information on government services for people whose property sustained damage resulting from the flood. The response level remained within provincial capacity.
FatalitiesUnknown
Injured / InfectedUnknown
Evacuated500
Estimated Total Cost$19,778,000
Federal DFAA Payments$19,778,000
Provincial DFAA PaymentsUnknown
Provincial Department PaymentsUnknown
Municipal CostsUnknown
OGD CostsUnknown
Insurance PaymentsUnknown
NGO PaymentsUnknown
Utility - People AffectedUnknown
MagnitudeUnknown