The City of Dauphin started moving from emergency flood response to recovery this week, with the first steps for residents outlined in a July 13 notice from the city.
The shift comes two weeks after the city declared a State of Local Emergency on July 1, 2026. That day, the City of Dauphin reported receiving about 115 millimetres of rain between June 28 and July 1. The Vermillion River spilled its banks, flooding Vermillion Park and sending water through the north end, the lowest part of town.
As the water rose, the Dauphin Regional Health Centre was evacuated when floodwater reached the basement where the main power source sits. That knocked out electricity and affected emergency generators, forcing 54 patients, including one infant, to be moved to hospitals around the province. Premier Wab Kinew said the hospital will stay closed for nine to 12 months, with services coming back gradually. In the meantime, people can get basic care at a temporary Assessment and Minor Treatment Clinic that is now open in the Dauphin Community Health Services Building next door.
Residents have been on a tight timeline since the emergency began. As of July 8, the final curbside collection of flood debris wrapped up, and on July 9, the city lifted water use restrictions, saying the wastewater system was stable again and normal water use could resume.
The July 13 recovery notice gives residents the next steps they need to follow as the community moves out of emergency mode. With the entire city of about 10,000 people affected in some way, the province has stepped in with two financial relief measures: $5 million to help municipalities manage cash flow and $500 advance cheques for roughly 1,800 people who applied for disaster financial aid.
Across Manitoba’s Parkland region, 30 local states of emergency were called due to this flooding, and more than 50 provincial roads were closed. The Canadian Red Cross has been brought in to help with registration services and recovery support for residents hit by the floods.
