Record flooding in parts of BC

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EAST KOOTENAY (NEWS1130) – The Regional District of East Kootenay says flooding has hit record levels in some communities.

“The waters are moving very, very rapidly and they are very high. It’s dark brown, chocolate milk water crashing its way through every tree and rock that it comes across.  It’s violent and creating some unpredictable conditions,” describes Provincial Information Officer Loree Duczek.

An evacuation has been ordered due to the high water levels that have breached part of the dike in Hosmer.  The water is now flowing through properties.

“We have an evacuation alert that remains in place in Hosmer, we have evacuated lower Hosmer but we are expanding that evacuation zone.”

The Columbia Valley has stabilized somewhat today after heavy rainfall in the last few days but water levels are still high.

In Elk Valley an evacuation alert was issued for a neighbourhood near Fernie and that remains in place.

Local states of emergency have been declared as a precaution in Fairmont and Fairmonth Hot Springs because of the high levels of Fairmont and Cold Springs Creek.

Environment Canada has lifted all rainfall warnings across our province, although it points out 106 millimeters of rain drenched Sparwood over the last 24 hours, with Nelson, Creston and Cranbrook all receiving between 70 and 77 millimeters.

Highway 1 remains closed east of Golden because of washouts in Alberta.  Highways 31A and 93 are also severed and Highway 3 outside Sparwood and Highway 31 north of Kaslo have been reduced to single lane alternating traffic for the time being.

Check for full updates on roads in BC here.

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