Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet says after hosting a meeting in St. George, he saw a lot of frustration and anger from residents who feel they are left vulnerable to the next storm.
Doucet tells Tide News we need to look at the bigger picture. "These rain events are going to happen more and more often, so it really brings that bigger question of how do we better prepare for it? Let's not think of this happening every ten years or every twenty years or every hundred years. These are going to happen more and more often and as communities, we just need to be ready for it."
Doucet is proposing the legislature appoint a select committee on flood damage control with a mandate to visit flood-prone areas, gather ideas from residents and dam operators, and then make recommendations on further action.
The MLA goes on to say he has a clear mandate from the people in Charlotte County to re-introduce the amendment to the Emergency Measures Act. He says the community is going to rally with him, be better organized, and get in contact with government members who voted against it last December. "As a matter of fact, all the government members did a standing vote and voted against it. So they're going to start the lobby process prior to the fall session, but I think they are going to make a stronger presence with a stronger voice to the government members to see that this goes through and not be defeated."
