Flooding rains prompt state of emergency in northeast B.C.

Saturday, June 18, 2016, 3:04 PM - A state of emergency was declared in Dawson Creek, B.C. on Friday. The community has been one of the worst hit by recent flooding, with over 100 mm of rain in the last two days.

"After we assessed the damage that had happened during the storm and flooding, we felt moving into a local state of emergency was the next step," Bumstead said in a statement released by the city.

Highways and local roads have been severely damaged.  On Thursday, a bridge collapsed in Dawson Creek and about 60 people fled their homes for emergency shelter.

"We are in a very serious situation this morning in our city," Bumstead posted to Facebook early Thursday. "The north side of town and south side are now separated and [there is] no way to connect easily."

Bumstead was warning residents to take extra caution around water and creeks and said that schools in the area would be closed once again on Friday.

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

Dawson Creek resident Wade Nobbs told CBC the flood is the worst he's seen in 30 years of living there.

"It's causing a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time everything washed out."

Family with baby rescued via helicopter

A mother, grandmother and baby were rescued via helicopter Thursday after major flooding left them stranded in their car on Hwy 97 near Chetwynd.

Officials say the aircraft was in the area delivering supplies to the more than 200 properties that have been cut off by washed-out roads.

Floodwaters forced the District of Chetwynd to declare a state of emergency Wednesday.

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The region was cut off from the rest of the province after flooding closed three highways in the area on Wednesday afternoon.

"The District of Chetwynd is fully committed to protecting critical infrastructure (roads, bridges and property) and to ensure the safety of citizens," said the district in a statement on Thursday.

An emergency services receiving centre has been set up at the Chetwynd and District Rec Centre for any rural residents requesting assistance. No evacuation orders were issued.

Rain threat continues

"The heaviest rain has subsided, but there's the threat for more showers and thunderstorms through Saturday," says Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg. "And while conditions will remain unsettled, rainfall totals should not be significant for areas in the north. Conditions are looking to dry out by Monday."

Sources: Vancouver Sun | CBC News | CTV News | Global News |