Flooding in northeastern B.C. forces 60 from homes

Sewage and rising water have forced 60 people to flee their homes in Dawson Creek, B.C., after floodwaters cut the community in half and washed out bridges overnight.

The highway link connecting northeastern B.C. to Prince George and the rest of the province was severed yesterday. Now, the rail line between Prince George and Fort St. John is also flooded, with no estimated time of reopening, according to CN Rail.

The worst-hit community is Dawson Creek, where a bridge collapsed and two others are submerged.

Rainfall warnings have ended for the region, but showers are expected to continue Thursday night and Friday afternoon.

• VIDEO | Dramatic images of flood-ravaged northeastern B.C.

'Very serious situation'

Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead took to Facebook to warn residents of the dangerous and changing conditions.

"We are in a very serious situation this morning in our city. The north side of town and south side are now separated and [there is] no way to connect easily," he wrote. "Please be very careful around the water and creek. Property damage is one thing, but to have something more serious is my biggest concern right now."

"It's a mess," said Dawson Creek resident Wade Cryne. "I spent 14 hours with a shop vac in my basement.… It came right up through the drain."

By Thursday afternoon, the mayor said it appeared flooding had reached its peak, but he warned people to stop trying to circumvent barricades on washed-out roads.

"We are not out of the woods," he wrote. "None of the affected roads should be used until we have removed the barricades."

Schools have been closed for the day and city buses cancelled, according to the mayor's latest Facebook post. Schools will also be closed Friday, according to the school district.

Highways remain closed

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has posted an upgraded flood warning for streams near Dawson Creek, Chetwynd, Fort St. John, Pine Pass and Tumbler Ridge.

Meanwhile, several highways in northeastern B.C. remain closed because of heavy rain, flooding and washouts that hit the region on Wednesday.

• Check with DriveBC for updates on the status of the routes
• Check Environment Canada for updates on weather warnings
• Check with River Forecast Centre for updates

A state of emergency declared by the District of Chetwynd on Wednesday remains in place. The city has made sandbags available for residents outside the public works yard.

Environment Canada reported that as of 6 a.m. PT, Chetwynd had received 129.6 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, while Dawson Creek registered 105.6 mm. 

Chetwynd Mayor Merlin Nichols said residents need to take measures to make sure their families, structures and livestock are all safe as rain continues to pour in the area.

Local updates

Highways and rail lines

• Highway 97, the only route to the rest of B.C., remains closed through the Pine Pass from Mackenzie Junction to Chetwynd. The only alternate route is a seven-hour detour through Grande Prairie, Alta.
• The CN line between Prince George and Fort St. John is closed.

Dawson Creek

• Sixty people have fled homes damaged by water and sewage.
• All schools and college closed.
• Schools closed Friday.
• No power, no transit on south side.
• City cut in half by flooding, with hospital and fire hall only easily accessible to half the town. 
• Mayor Dale Bumstead says the dangerous goods route will be used for emergency vehicles that need to get across town.
• Officials asking people to stay home. 

Chetwynd

• Local state of emergency declared.
• Clinic closed with urgent services moved to hospital.

Tumbler Ridge

• Remains cut off with Highway 52 and Highway 29 closed due to flooding.