At least 18 inches of snow on the Peguis First Nation ground: Team Rubicon

Peguis First Nation is facing an elevated risk of spring flooding, with over 120 homes in need of protection.

Volunteers from Team Rubicon began gathering in Peguis First Nation after the federal assistance for the flood mitigation effort was approved on Thursday.

Over the weekend following the approval, Team Rubicon’s volunteers from eight provinces, Yukon and 10 U.S. states have been flying into Winnipeg Richardson International Airport to assist the sandbagging operation amidst the high risk of flood for the First Nation. Volunteers get to the First Nation by ground transportation from the airport.

Operation’s information officer and Team Rubicon Canada’s Manitoba director Jim Sutton told CTV News there’s at least 18 inches of snow on the ground at the First Nation.

“We had people on the ground Friday to do a reconnaissance to ensure that we could bring 80 people up there, we’d have accommodations, we’d get fed and we weren’t going to put more of a stress on the community than they are already under,” Sutton said on Sunday.

“As you travel north, there’s just more and more snow on the ground. The community members themselves are sandbagging like crazy and they just need more hands to get that job done.”

Command staffs arrived on Saturday, with more volunteers arriving on Sunday.

According to Sutton, more than 120 homes are in need of protection as of Sunday morning. Sandbags are currently being produced at the First Nation, but the majority of the bags are coming out from Portage la Prairie, delivered on a flatbed.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski approved the deployment of humanitarian personnel to the First Nation on Thursday after the province and the community requested federal assistance.

On Saturday, the province updated its spring flood outlook, adding the Parkland region and Icelandic River to the flood risk areas.

• Manitoba news: Parkland and Icelandic River flood forecast updated

Flood risk remains at a high level for the Fisher River basin in the Interlake region, as stated in its March outlook. The March outlook warned peak flows can reach a similar level to the 2014 spring flood, possibly reaching catastrophic 2022 levels under worse conditions.

The 2022 level prompted states of emergency and evacuations in parts of the Interlake region. More than 2,000 people from the First Nation were evacuated in that year.

• Manitoba news: First Nation on edge over increased risk of flooding

The volunteers are comprised of three groups: ex-military, retired first-responders and civilians such as a public health nurse.

“They’re used to just dealing with chaos all the time and making sense of it and helping people,” Sutton said on Sunday.

“That’s a really strong aspect of this – just that sense of ‘I am providing assistance to somebody who is having their worst day and needs some kind of assistance.’

“We’re there on their worst day.”

Team Rubicon’s volunteers are staying at the nation’s multiplex, with current evacuees staying on the former rink surface of the multiplex, he said.

“When we showed up, they were thrilled that we’re coming and all the assistance we’re providing. Everybody’s been very cooperative and very thankful.”

As to the length of Team Rubicon’s operation, Sutton said anything’s possible.

“I’ve been on operations, where … the operation is going to end Saturday and we end up for another week or two weeks after that because we find work. Maybe we’re going to go from Peguis to some place else, I don’t know.”

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV News’ Daniel Halmarson and Jeff Keele