Goulais River swells - flooding possible this afternoon

The Goulais River is running fast and high this morning.

The following are SooToday.com's notes from a conference call press briefing this morning conducted by Kirk Dillabough of the Ministry of Natural Resources:

- Last night, 30 mm of rain fell Sault Ste. Marie to Searchmont.

- Officials are now bracing for the aftereffects of that precipitation.

- The Goulais River still has a heavy ice load, which is unusual for this time of year.

- Mouth of the river is not open.

- There is therefore a potential for a flash flood.

- Localized flooding is possible, with jammed ice acting as a dam that will back up ice.

- An emergency planning team has been activated.

- It's expected that full effects of rain won't be felt for 24 hours.

- A response plan in place with the OPP, Goulais and Searchmont Fire and Rescue, Bell Canada, other emergency response agencies to be briefed later today.

- 24-hour river monitoring has begun.

- Visual monitoring of ice conditions will occur three times a day.

- A helicopter will fly the entire river tomorrow.

- Officials don't want to alarm people at this point, but they want you to know that there's a potential for flooding.

- The Goulais River is currently within its banks.

- If you are asked by authorities to leave your home, please do so immediately. If you refuse, it might not be possible for them to return to you because of the speed at which the water rises.

- Flooding could begin this afternoon, with the greatest threat expected this time tomorrow.

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