Two victims of N.S. floods identified as families mourn

A six-year-old girl with a passion for cheerleading has been identified as one of the four people who died while fleeing their homes during a devastating rainstorm last weekend in rural Nova Scotia.

An obituary for Natalie Hazel Harnish says she loved colourful clothing and dressing up like a princess.

"Natalie loved her family trips to the Oaklawn Zoo, she insisted on having season passes. Natalie couldn't wait to see her favourite animal, Blueberry, the bear. She had no fear. The closer the bear was, the better," the obituary read.

"She was a shining light, full of energy and could always brighten up a room. She will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives she touched."

The obituary noted Natalie's dog, Molly, who also died in the flood, "will be laid to rest beside her."

As of Thursday evening, a GoFundMe campaign set up to help Harnish's family had raised more than $77,000.

Local musician identified

The Canadian Press identified Nicholas Anthony Holland as another missing person who died in a separate incident due to the flooding.

Holland, 52, was a local performer known for his lifelong passion for music.

His former wife, Julie Giffin Holland, said he was a member of the local heavy metal band Hogtooth, and died trying to escape the floodwater.

"He died a hero and should be remembered as that," she said in a text message.

Nicholas Holland leaves behind a partner and two children.

An obituary on a funeral home website describes Holland as a talented musician who played in many bands over the years.

"All who knew him knew music was his passion," it says.

Holland's body was recovered Monday in Brooklyn, N.S., about 55 kilometres northwest of Halifax. In the obituary, his family thanked search and rescue teams, private citizens and Holland's bandmates for their "tireless" efforts to find him.

"They all went above and beyond to bring Nick home to us, and we will be forever deeply grateful for that," the obituary reads.

Trying to escape the floods

A youth who was travelling with Holland remains missing.

Police have said a surge of water washed their vehicle, and the vehicle Harnish was travelling in, off the road as they were trying to escape flash flooding at around 4 a.m. on Saturday.

The rainstorm was categorized as a once-in-a-thousand-year event by Halifax officials, with the city and surrounding areas receiving as much as 250 millimetres of rain.

The severe flooding damaged dozens of roads and bridges across the province. As of Thursday, provincial officials said they had not yet assessed the full extent of the damage, though floodwaters had receded substantially.

With files from a Canadian Press story produced with the financial assistance of the Meta-Canadian Press News Fellowship, which is not involved in the editorial process.