Hundreds told to evacuate as heavy flooding hits Duncan, N. Cowichan

Heavy flooding hit the Cowichan Valley this morning, leading to evacuation notices affecting hundreds of residents and the declaration of a state of emergency by the municipalities of Duncan and North Cowichan, and the Cowichan Tribes.

North Cowichan spokesman Mark Ruttan said late this morning that search-and-rescue crews were called to the neighbourhood around Beverly Street.

“We’ve got the Cowichan Search-and-Rescue out there delivering evacuation notices.”

Const. Ed Power of the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP said virtually all of the homes on the street were affected by the flood water. Ruttan said the exact number of evacuees was not immediately known.

“We’re hoping to get a count soon. But in the area that we’ve designated there are about 300 homes.”

Another area, on Chesterfield Avenue between Beverly Street and the Cowichan Sportsplex, was on a lesser “alert” status for evacuation. Highway lanes through the region remained open.

“We were having quite a bit of a back-up, though, at the Trans-Canada Highway at Herd Road,” Ruttan said.

He said various detours caused by the flooding were the main cause.

On the Cowichan Tribes’ reserve lands, home to about 2,400 people, band official Bill Seymour said officials were working closely with their municipal counterparts. He said homes are being checked on, and three families were in an area that had to be watched particularly closely.

No one was evacuated during the morning, he said.

All of the states of emergency were issued early in the day, with Duncan’s coming before 6 a.m. and North Cowichan’s around 6:30 a.m. Ruttan said this type of flooding, which is centred around the Cowichan and Koksilah rivers, has not come with such force for some time.

“Not for many years,” he said. “There are dikes along Beverly Street, and Lakes Road was built up years ago. It’s protected it until now, but this is just an extremely unusual rain event.

“It’s a lot of rain combined with some high tides. Crews are busy diking and sandbagging.”

An emergency reception centre has been set up, Ruttan said. He added that anyone wanting to volunteer for flood-response duties can call the North Cowichan municipal offices at 250-746-2560.

Bill Kuhnke, manager of forecasting and information for the Ministry of Environment, said the Cowichan-area flooding was caused by similar factors that led to flood problems around Courtenay earlier this week. He said at noon that flood levels had begun to fall.

Send photos and flood tips to: localnews@tc.canwest.com

What you should do:

- Leave the area immediately

- Follow the travel route provided and register at (ESS Reception Centre 2687 James Street and Island Savings Centre)

- If you need transportation assistance from the area please call 250-746-2561

- Close all windows and doors

- Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers

- Close gates (latch) but do not lock

- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help

- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, keys) only if they are immediately available. – Take pets in pet kennels or on leash

- Do not use more vehicles than you have to

- Do not use the telephone unless you need emergency service

While this is the most serious problem created by the rising waters, numerous road closures are also causing traffic snarls.

The following roads have been closed:

- Tzouhalem Road between Jaynes and Lakes Roads

- Lakes Road between Beverly Street and Tzouhalem

- Beverly Street between Lakes Road and York

- Canada Avenue from Philip to Sherman round-a-bout

- Trunk Road from Olsen to lakes Road

- Campbell Street/Prevost/Lomas

- Marchmont to Campbell East

- Philips to Mary Street

- Tzouhalem Road to cowichan Bay Road

- Portions of Cowichan Bay Road

- Dike building is occurring on Lakes Road from round-a-bout to Duncan Works yard

For up to date information, check the North Cowichan web site at www.northcowichan.bc.ca