Town of Smithers releases flood watch statement

As the Bulkley River is currently under a flood watch, Smithers officials are warning members of the public to stay vigilant at this time.

The Bulkley River and its tributaries around Smithers experienced rises over the weekend, and are expected to continue that trend in the coming days

On Wednesday, a low-pressure trough is expected to bring cooler temperatures and potentially more rainfall.

Smithers residents should:

• refrain from recreating on or near the Bulkley River and other bodies of water,
• stay off riverbanks and exercise extreme caution as fast-moving water can be extremely dangerous,
• and refrain from traveling through areas that may be impacted by flooding.

Residents who live in an area that may be subject to flooding are strongly urged to take
the following steps:

• prepare an emergency kit for each family member with enough supplies for up to
  one week,
• gather important papers in water-tight containers and keep a record of valuables
  in a safe place,
• relocate hazardous materials, such as cleaners and pesticides, to higher ground
  to prevent water contamination,
• move items that can be damaged by flood waters to higher ground,
• unplug and disconnect any electrical items that may be at-risk,
• and make arrangements for pets and livestock to be moved to a safe location.

BC’s Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice says she has a message to add to the local statement issued by Smithers Officials.

“Being prepared is a shared responsibility. All levels of government and each individual in the province has an obligation to have a preparedness plan in place. There’s a common misconception that we as a government can fix every problem, however, we count on individuals to be prepared for worst-case scenarios. This message is not to scare residents of the Bulkley Valley but to ensure they have everything ready if need be.”

Additional flood preparedness tips can be found here.