'The water's coming up so fast': Areas of Hay River, N.W.T., evacuated as localized flooding hits town
CBC
Residents of Vale Island and West Channel in Hay River, N.W.T., are being asked to leave for higher ground as waters risk flooding the area.
Kátł'odeeche First Nation Chief April Martel said "there's lots of water and ice," especially in her community.
"Like the water's coming up so fast, there's water everywhere, ice everywhere," she said.
Localized flooding has been reported around the West Channel and West Point First Nations area, as well as the northeast areas of the East Channel, and at Paradise Gardens, the town said in an emailed notice at 11:30 a.m.
As of 4:40 p.m., Martel said she hasn't seen water reach any homes yet and is hoping it remains that way.
Ice jams are occurring in both West and East Channels and the risk of more flooding is high.
"Any residents still on the island are advised to evacuate," the notice read.
An evacuation order went into effect at 2 a.m. Saturday morning.
Kevin Wallington, a Hay River resident, said the notice came after significant rain fall and a power outage that lasted until Saturday morning.
"It was a little bit like a Stephen King novel. We kind of had all kinds of things happening at the same time," he said.
"It was quite eerie actually departing the old town with everything that was going on in darkness."
A local state of emergency was declared around 1:30 a.m.
The majority of the river ice is still yet to pass through the community, and precipitation warnings in place for Northern Alberta and the South Slave regions will worsen conditions, the town notice says.
Those leaving for flood risk zones are advised to register on the Hay River website.
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