The Richmond County and Inverness County school boards have announced the closure of schools on Tuesday, September 8, due to a local state of emergency that was declared following extreme storms and flooding over the weekend, which tragically resulted in the death of a woman.

On Sunday, September 6, a local state of emergency was officially declared in Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria counties as a result of severe flooding and considerable damages. The emergency declaration remains in effect until Tuesday, prohibiting all school activities in these regions. Therefore, all educational facilities in Victoria, Richmond, and Inverness Counties will remain shut.

Additionally, the Nova Scotia Community College's Strait Area Campus situated in Port Hawkesbury, along with the Wagmatcook Learning Centre, will also be closed.

The Strait Regional Centre for Education stated that the temporary closure of schools is essential to facilitate the necessary repairs and maintenance of roads that have been heavily impacted by the flooding.

Cape Breton Island and segments of the northeast mainland have experienced significant rainfall over the weekend, attributed to a slow-moving weather system, resulting in over 200 millimeters of rain in some regions. This extreme weather event has caused extensive flooding, destroying roads, culverts, barriers, and bridges. Residents are strongly advised to refrain from any non-essential travel as the heavy rainfall continues to provoke substantial flooding, road washouts, and disruptions in transportation.

Province Mourns the Loss of a Life

The RCMP announced the recovery of the body of a 46-year-old woman from Cleveland, N.S., who had been reported missing earlier on Saturday, September 5. Authorities had received information concerning her disappearance after her vehicle was found parked near her residence, on the opposite side of a flooded bridge.

In response to the situation, the police, along with volunteers and local fire services, initiated a search for the missing woman. Her body was subsequently recovered in the vicinity at around 2:30 p.m. on that Saturday. “Our province is mourning the loss of one of our own due to the flooding in Cape Breton. My sincere condolences go out to her family, loved ones, and community as they cope with this heartbreaking loss,” expressed Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management, in a statement.

Masland emphasized that when a tragedy claims the life of a fellow Nova Scotian, it affects the entire province. He reassured the grieving family that all Nova Scotians stand in support of them during this difficult time. He also highlighted that the province's current priority is ensuring public safety and expressed gratitude towards first responders, emergency workers, municipal teams, volunteers, public works crews, and members of the Nova Scotia Guard who have been diligently working to address safety concerns related to the flooding and its infrastructure damage.