Washed out roads and bridges as floods bury some Northern BC communities
Posted June 16, 2016 11:56 am.
Last Updated June 16, 2016 11:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CHETWYND (NEWS 1130) – Heavy rains in several northeastern British Columbia communities have washed out roads, prompted flood watches, forced some evacuations and led to one declaration of local emergency.
Mayor Merlin Nichols of Chetwynd issued the declaration yesterday after about 100 mm of rain drenched the town of about 3,000 people, 100 kilometres west of Dawson Creek.
Nichols says the community’s industrial area just north of town is hardest hit, with the railway washed out and damage to buildings caused by the flooding of Winter Creek.
Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead says his city has been cut in half by the waterway that divides the town, with locals from several properties forced to higher ground as a number of bridges and culverts have been damaged or destroyed.
17th street in Dawson Creek also destroyed. Town cut in half. #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/4eAji71Tie
— Jonny Wakefield (@jonnywakefield) June 16, 2016
DriveBC reports washouts or closures on Highways 97, 52 and 29, affecting Chetwynd and Dawson Creek, and the River Forecast Centre notes flood watches are posted there and for waterways near Pine Pass, Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson.
Environment Canada says rainfall warnings are up for the northeastern corner of the province, with another 20 mm expected before sunshine returns.
Dawson Creek Mirror and Alaska Highway News reporter Jonny Wakefield says the town is split in half by the water, and now officials need to figure out a clean up strategy.
“I just spoke to the mayor, and he says there’s probably going to be a special council meeting to sort of talk about next steps in re-engineering some of these roads.”
BC Hydro crews are working to restore power, but some areas are still inaccessible because of the water.
The extent of the damage has not been determined but DriveBC and city officials have reported a number of roads, highways and bridges are washed out or closed.
