Bill Miller is the chairman of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and he says ice has been accumulating for two weeks or more now. It’s risen up and some water has seeped off of the icy jam and made its way into basements and other areas that are near to the river and ice.
“It’s kind of like an orange peel, almost,” Miller told The Canadian Press. “It bunches up down the river and kind of piles up against one another.”
Miller noted that thanks to warmer temperatures some ice has drained and that they are hopeful it will keep doing so gradually over time and not be the cause of flooding. They are asking people not to “recreate” in the river and to stay away from the area entirely.
An alert has been issued, Miller said, and he does not know when it will be lifted. “There is water on the roads,” he said. “It just isn’t too deep right now.”
There are about “15 to 20 homes” in the area that could be affected if there is flooding and Miller said some residents have chosen to leave and stay with family or friends. They preferred doing so to remaining and being constantly under the threat of having to leave on a moment’s notice.
Smithers has a population of about 5,500 and is roughly half-way between Prince George to the south and Prince Rupert to the north.
