Regional District Activates Emergency Operations Centre

Friday, April 17, 2009 01:56 PM

Water rushes south across Patterson Road at Highway 97 South click on photo for video

Prince George, B.C. – The Regional District has activated its Emergency Operations Centre and has it operating at “level 1” as the waters continue to rise around a Red Rock area home.

Emergency Co Ordinator Donna Muntz from the Regional District says that level

means they can request assistance from the Provincial Emergency Program. There is a number for residents to call, 250-960-4401, there is an answering service and someone be in touch. If there is a need to bring people to scene to assist, the level will be upgraded to level 2.

(at right, ducks swim in what should be the front yard of a home north of Patterson Road)

The Ministry of Transportation has dispatched Yellowhead Road and Bridge to the area, about 4 km south of 15 Mile Road on Highway 97 south at Patterson Road. There, the water has crossed the road, and one driveway was excavated to allow water to move through a culvert and into the ditch on the other side. “We think there is a beaver dam on one of the tributaries leading into the main creek” says Larry Rowe of the Ministry of Transportation, “We had a similar situation last year, but the ground wasn’t frozen, so this year, the ground is still frozen and the water is running over top.”

Resident Faye Bilous had her driveway cut so the water could run freely, MOT’s Larry Rowe says the home owner is responsible for making certain the culverts under driveways are clear and the Ministry has the right to do what is necessary to protect the highway.

The Ministry of Transportation’s Dave Crebo says this is not the only situation “The Ministry has 20 people and four crews working on more than half a dozen areas of concern in the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.”

Shirley Bond, who is seeking re-election in the riding where this flooding is taking effect, has been talking with all the officials to ensure the safety of all the residents "It is my intention to pursue the problem until it is resolved."

Below, vehicles take it slow going through the water that is washing across Highway 97

The Regional District of Fraser Fort George is also concerned about Pine View, Salmon Valley and Mud River regions.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 01:56 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Loki on April 17 2009 3:35 PM

rubber ducky, your the one. . .

Posted by: Ispy on April 17 2009 4:13 PM

I thought it had been reported there would be no risk of flooding this year??The pic on this site on Tues(?) shows a house south of town that is surrounded by water,this section of highway and on Courval Road as we drove by on Sunday the culvert was brimming and has started to undermine the road.Two calls were placed to YRB a.k.a Y R U (bothering us) and with no results or call back.Is this area part of the future widening to 4 lanes?Parts of that construction site were diverting water on Sunday.Go find the beaver dam and get rid of it,already.

Posted by: Jayda on April 18 2009 2:52 PM

[quote]Resident Faye Bilous had her driveway cut so the water could run freely, MOT�s Larry Rowe says the home owner is responsible for making certain the culverts under driveways are clear and the Ministry has the right to do what is necessary to protect the highway.[quote]

But is it not the regional district and highways responsibility to keep their culverts free as well? At the log house is there not a culvert under highway 97? The water is also running over Corval Rd, is this not regional districts responsibility?

Its been a rickashae affect all the way from Corval Rd, the log house up to Patterson Rd, and down Red Rock Rd.

Posted by: northman on April 18 2009 2:52 PM

Ohh the flooding will happen, Upper Fraser snowpack is 168% above normal.