Severe overland flooding has forced a state of emergency in the Town of Carman. Local officials say ice build-up on the Boyne River has caused spring run-off to back up and begin filling streets. 

Due to the ongoing situation, Prairie Rose School Division has decided to close both Carman Elementary and Carman Collegiate for Monday, April 3rd. Classes have also been cancelled at Elm Creek School due to poor rural road conditions, Busses will not be running however, staff are to report to the school.

Highway 245 on the west side of town, by the Carman Golf and Curling Club, has been closed due to water running over the road. A local spokesperson says many other area roads have also been closed.

PembinaValleyOnline has been informed the hardest hit area in Carman is the residential development, Heritage Acres, which is river front to the Boyne River. Officials are working to raise the road going in to the development by about one foot in order to reduce the volume of water that's flowing into the neighbourhood.

Hundreds of volunteers have pulled together to fill sandbags that they hope will help protect hundreds of homes within Carman and the neighbouring R.M. of Dufferin. Residents are also asked to reduce water usage at this time, as well as keep stress off of the local sewer system.

Meantime, a state of emergency also remains in effect of the R.M. of Dufferin. Reeve George Gray says the water situation is pretty well under control in the municipality, but the state of emergency will remain in place until the situation in the Town of Carman has improved.

Click here for update road closures.

Pictures in the below gallery were submitted by Vanessa Giesbrecht.