With the spring thaw in full impact, now could be the time for flood susceptible communities to begin getting ready.

The RM of St. Andrews will likely be getting early warning of hassle this season as they’re utilizing drone expertise to get an advance have a look at growing issues.

One of the residents who will profit from this expertise is Mac Pulling, who was compelled to evacuate after his road obtained a torrent of water again in 2015.

“I was sitting on my front deck and I watched it, the water going over,” he mentioned. “And I said, ‘Oh, it’s time to go to town.’”

Pulling knew there was a very good probability of flooding that 12 months, however he didn’t know precisely when to count on it.

In the annual flood battle, officers say that is fairly widespread.

“In the last decade we wouldn’t be able to react till we were actually in a situation where we had an ice jam, and water was beginning to back up. So we were very reactive,” mentioned Brent Olynyk, CAO of the RM of St. Andrews.

Today the RM is ready to get an early warning due to drone expertise.

Earlier this week, the RM performed its first drone flight of the season to seize aerial footage of the ice circumstances alongside the Red River. The concept is to observe for any potential threat of ice jamming and watch how and the place the ice is shifting every day.

“[We are] able to warn ourselves and say get ready in the next 12 or 15 hours, we could be experiencing a problem,” Olynyk mentioned.

Mayor Joy Sul mentioned having 15 hours discover as an alternative of quarter-hour is a big benefit for individuals in the neighborhood.

“Residents can go on the website and see exactly what’s happening at that at that moment, how the water is moving, where the water is breaking up and if there is going to be a jam, where it’s going to be,” Sul mentioned.

Pulling mentioned he appreciates the early warning after years of sudden surprises.