Date: December 10, 2008

Location: Corner Brook

Easting: 434200

Northing: 5423300

Latitude: 48° 58′ 00″ N

Longitude: 57° 57′ 00″ W

Fatalities: 0

Injuries: 0

Source: Western Star, CBC web site

Heavy rain in the corner Brook area caused flooding. The most serious incident was on Petries Street and Hilliard’s Road, Curling, where water from Petries Brook built up behind an embankment carrying the former railbed. When the water over-topped the rail-bed , the embankment gave way, causing a rapid flood carrying much debris with it. It impacted four houses on Hilliard’s Road below, carrying a car and a shed up against one house. The most serious damage was to the house owned by Debbie Brake, where the water reached over a metre deep around the house. Mrs. Brake had to be rescued by fire-fighers through a window. The house was extensively damaged, and partially undermined by the flood waters. Adjacent houses suffered flooded basements. The Petries bridge was also damaged.

Other areas affected included Station Road where a sewer pump was flooded, and the access road to Gallants was washed out. A “sink-hole” was reported on the Burgeo Highway- presumably related to wash-out of the road-bed. Property on East Valley Road in Corner Brook was also damaged by flood water after a storm sewer was blocked by debris.