Notices

The Town would like to provide our residents with a context of the Emergency Management Groups observations over the December 1st – 2nd, 2020 Emergency.

• Analysis of the Town’s two electronic monitoring gauges and the water level rise recorded at each indicates the emergency of December 01 – 02, 2020 was a major Trout Creek event. Clearly obvious to all impacted. Our recordings indicated the Kennebecasis River system received water but saw little damage impact as a result of this rain event. The water was high, but capacity remained to receive the tributaries such as Trout Creek, and further upstream tributaries such as Parsons Brook and Wards Creek.
• Water levels along Trout Creek were near the April 2014 levels. Water levels in the Kennebecasis were far below the 2014 recorded readings.
• The upstream reaches of Parsons Brook and Wards Creek received little impact.
• Social Media speculation on the workings of the Gateway Mall Berm continue in our community. In keeping with our analysis of the recording of river levels, and our overall emergency analysis; this flood event was localized within Trout Creek system given the measurements recorded, and, the Town’s onsite observations of staff deployed atop of the berm structure during this emergency. The water levels in the Kennebecasis never reached the “toe of slope” (bottom) on the earthen berm. That said, the mechanical devices for backflow prevention never triggered, and the portable pump although mobilized was never used on either December 01 or December 02. Runoff from upstream areas along Main Street and the mall parking lots discharged into the Kennebecasis River without issue. A Far different flooding event than that experienced in April 2014 in the Gateway Mall area.

Flood Master Planning, Town of Sussex & Village of Sussex Corner:

• The Town would also reference our Flood Master Plan for the publics review and public consideration. The complete Flood Master Plan document can be found at the following link. https://sussex.ca/media/Sussex-Region-Flood-Risk-Mitigation-Plan-Final-Report.pdf
• A public presentation of our Flood Master Plan https://sussex.ca/media/2020-09-10-Sussex-Regional-Master-Flood-Plan-Public-Presentatio.pdf was reviewed and presented to the Public on September 10th, 2020.
• The Town of Sussex and the Village of Sussex Corner request the public’s input by completing an online survey at the following link: https://sussex.ca/public-presentation-of-flood-master-plan/. To date nine (9) people have provided their input. We are requesting additional comments, and greater public dialogue on our Master Plan.

Forward Planning and Frank Open Discussion necessary:

• The magnitude of the flooding issue faced by our communities is far greater than removing the top layer of gravel within six inches of the water surface that would likely be permitted even if a permit could be secured. This is not a viable long term solution, however much discussion is needed in developing a viable long term solution that will work when needed, and more importantly work every time.
• Events similar to that experienced on December 1st and 2nd have a 1% annual probability of occurring again, but, most residents say the magnitude is far to frequent and the time is now to have meaningful, frank discussions about our future and constructive dialogue of how we choose to live in our community safely without the constant threat of flooding and repeated property damage.
• The Town has started to conduct a post event debriefing to identify weaknesses in our emergency response of December 1st and 2nd, and to constructive critique our efforts with a view to make meaningful improvements in future emergency response. We had issues during this event, and, our Emergency Control Group will identify each issue faced in this emergency and these post event recommendations will be forwarded to Sussex Town Council of necessary improvements on December 14th, 2020.

Activation Level:

• EOC staffing at the Town’s Emergency Operations Centre continues.
• If necessary a virtual meeting will be called at 4:30 PM December 02, 2020 to further assess our response, forecast and electronic readings at that time with the Town’s full EMO Control Group.
• River trending levels began receding 3:35 am Wednesday December 02, 2020.
• The Town has implemented Full Activation at 7:30 PM, local time December 01, 2020.
• The Town’s EOC implemented Level 2 – Partial Activation at 6:20 pm, local time December 01th, 2020.
• Staffing levels have been reached to address any issues should they arise on Tuesday December 01, 2020 and the early morning hours Wednesday December 02, 2020. Five (5) Unionized staff are currently on site, and a shift change was completed to increase this work complement and to schedule an appropriate rest to continue work related to this rain event.
• Sussex Fire department Volunteer staffing levels have been reduced to two (2) person complement.

The Town participated in a teleconference with the District Medical Officer of Health, 1:30 PM local time December 02, 2020 to update our EOC Control Group on the Orange Level response in Zone 2, the Saint John Region.

The Town’s EOC Coordinator asked the question related to the necessary precautions that need to be taken when volunteers offer assistance to affected residents. The District Medial Officer of Health provides the following guidance:

• Volunteers should monitor for symptoms and if a volunteer has symptoms, the advice is not to volunteer.
• Volunteers should not participate if they have been recently contacted by Public Health of a possible exposure to COVID-19 or those persons that have been directed by Public Health to self-isolate.
• All volunteers are recommended to wear a mask at all times.
• All volunteers are advised to practice good hand hygiene.

Meeting with Sussex Council:
The EOC Control Group has requested a meeting at 2:30 pm local time with Sussex Council and local politicians. The purpose of this meeting is to advise our elected leaders of the emergency event and response to date. The Town’s EOC Group will review with council the preplanning of the recovery phase of this flooding event.

Recovery, Cleanup:
The Town has arranged the deployment of a number of dumpsters through the community to assist area residents. The full deployment should be complete by days end.

Water Levels / Notifications:

• The Town’s EMO Group held a EOC meeting to review the forecasted rain event, experiences and recovery efforts necessary at 1:00 PM local time December 02, 2020.
• Intense rainfall has ended.
• The Town is currently monitoring two (2) electronic River gauges, one located on Trout Creek, and the new gauge located on the Kennebecasis River near the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• The Town’s rain gauge located at the Work’s Garage has recorded very close to the amount predicted by the Town’s weather forecasting service, as of meeting time. Rainfall was recorded in the 115mm range over the last 24 hours..
• The Town will continue to monitor the remote camera located at the Wallace Court Wastewater Pumping Station that monitors the river gauge installed at that location. Residents may observe remote lighting of the river gauge undertaken remotely through the Town’s SCADA system by Town staff. This lighting is to assist the Emergency Staff monitor river levels.
• Our electronic river level sensor has indicated the bottom of the yellow line on the Maple Avenue NBDT&I structure was reached at approximately 6:20 PM this evening, triggering activation of the EMO Messaging and full activation of the Town’s EMO team. The rate of rise is now trending downwards.
• The river gauge is currently reading (1:30 PM) 18.47 meters, down from a high of 19.79. meters as of 3:28 am.
• A reading of 19.24 meters is a 1 in 20 storm milestone. Cresting recorded is estimated to be nearing the April 2014 rain event
• Given the current weather conditions, Trout Creek crested the high level banks at approximately 10:30 pm this evening, thus creating the conditions of flooding of properties and streets in flood prone areas of Sussex.

Notifications, should it become necessary:

• Door to door notifications have ended.
• The Town has send a 72 hour be prepared message on its website and social media feeds on November 30th, 2020.
• Residents have been advised to take the necessary precautions in the event of localized flooding and to begin the process of moving personal items to levels that would keep safe the property from the potential of water damage.

Sussex Fire Department:

• Chief Wanamaker has staffed down to two (2) firefighters at the Sussex Fire Station.
• The Town has requested and received Mutual Aid from the Town of Hampton. Their rescue boat and crew have returned to their Fire Station. The Town of Sussex is grateful for Hampton’s assistance.

Works Operations:

• A full dayshift staff complement are currently on site and have begun response to this event as directed by the Sussex EMO team.
• The Town’s portable pump has been returned to the Works Garage.
• All wastewater pumping station operating in normal operational range. Assessment has been completed and three (3) WWPS have been placed into overflow. The Town has notified the NBDOE&LG of this precautionary measures.

Warming Centre / Emergency Shelters

• The Town will issue a notice to advise residents with a need to evacuate their homes to call the Town’s answering service at 432-4540 for assistance.
• Arrangements have been made with the Red Cross should these steps be necessary to continue.
• As of this 1:00 pm meeting, twenty-two (22) families have been placed in temporary shelters.

Safety Issues, flood response:

• The Town has requested assistance form the Provincial EMO Coordinator related to the danger of submerged NB Power pad mount transformers currently energized. Response awaited.
• Information forwarded to NBDT&I related to water impact to the bridge structure girders on Leonard Drive. Contact has been made with the District Highway Engineer.

Street Closures:

• The following street closures are currently in the process of being closed to traffic:
  o McLean Street.
  o Holman Avenue.
• The Town is assessing the necessary Trail closures and ask residents to exercise caution when using the trail system.
• The Town’s EMO Team would request the public’s assistance to not drive on flooded streets during this emergency. Doing so creates additional hardship to those residents affected. Please obey the Town’s placement of road closures or barricades.

Public Information:

• The Town issued its first Sentinel alert system wide at 7:30 PM local time December 01, 2020.
• A second message informing residents of the need to evacuate was completed.
• The Sussex Fire has completed the process of public notice to the subdivisions affected beginning at 7:30 PM this evening. Multiple tours of the affected areas were completed.
• No press conferences scheduled at this time.