Buffalo bracing for flooding

The rise in temperatures has led to frayed nerves in areas around Buffalo today.

Almost 3 metres of snow fell in some parts of the city last week. The melting now has creeks dangerously close to overflowing, and the biggest threat right now is flooding.

Buffalo Creek in West Seneca is running so fast today, it looks more like the rapids in the Niagara River.

“Buffalo Creek is at flood stage now. If it goes over, we’ll get it like we did last year.”

That’s why Jim Mehnert is loading sandbags into his car. His house is just 30 metres from the creek. He wants to sandbag the basement windows and around the front door.

All over this neighbourhood you see walls of sandbags packed up against entrances and garage doors. Homeowers are hoping it’s enough to protect them against an overflowing creek.

“In 15 minutes there baby it can come over.”

“There’s water coming in just now trickling in into the basement, so it’s also coming up through
the floor.”

They’re pumping out drains and clearing catch basins. Front end loaders are still scooping and dumping snow; they’ve made a lot of headway.

There are more 150 millimetres of snow melt in six feet of snow, and the flood dangers haven’t passed yet.

“I’m concerned but hoping the worst has passed, but we don’t know at this point.”