Flooding prompts numerous alerts in Yellowhead County, Edson

The Town of Edson declared a state of local emergency Monday due to rainfall and flooding, which later also prompted the evacuation of a nearby hamlet and a shelter-in-place order for another.

The Town of Edson declared a state of local emergency Monday due to rainfall and flooding, which later also prompted the evacuation of a nearby hamlet and a shelter-in-place order for another. 

The emergency in Edson began just after noon on Monday after more than 85 millimetres of rain "in a very short time."

Phone lines and internet were down and a number of roads were closed as crews worked to minimize damage in the town west of Edmonton.

"All of our staff resources are deployed dealing with flooding concerns throughout the community," Mayor Kevin Zahara said in an update shortly after the emergency was declared.

Just before 6 p.m. on Monday, residents of Lower Robb were told to leave immediately.

The hamlet is located about 60 kilometres south of Edson in Yellowhead County.