Ice Jam Creates Highest Flood Levels in B.C. Town As 24 Homes Most Affected

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Water from an ice jam in the Nechako River has created the highest flood levels ever in Prince George, putting 24 homes on evacuation order.

The homes were just starting to dry out after flooding in early December but more water has now accumulated in basements.

Kevin Brown, a spokesman for the city of Prince George, said Sunday that residents of nine homes are dealing with as much as a metre-and-a-half of water that overflowed the river’s banks on the south side.

“This is the highest water that anyone, certainly alive and well in Prince George today, has ever seen,” Brown said.

He said most people who have chosen to leave their homes are staying with friends or relatives.

Everyone affected by the flooding is eligible for disaster financial assistance through the provincial emergency program.

The ice began to jam up in the Nechako River after several days of low temperatures around -20 degrees at the beginning of December.

Chunks of it then dislodged, flowing downstream and stacking up to over three metres high before rising temperatures meant it melted and overflowed the river banks.

Brown said the ice jam is now about six kilometres long.

Several days of temperatures of at least 10 degrees are needed to help the situation, he said, although Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to drop.

“As we’ve seen in the past, as the temperature drops more ice forms in the river,” Brown said.

He said the northern city has already spent $1.5 million to build dikes.