DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The mayor of Dawson Creek has declared a local state of emergency in the northeastern B.C. city as receding flood waters reveal the extent of damage from two days of torrential rain.
Dale Bumstead issued the declaration Friday morning, saying it is the next step in the community's recovery from flooding that forced evacuations, destroyed or damaged bridges and washed away the CN rail line.
Bumstead says declaring a local emergency gives the city special powers to review and assess damage, and access federal and provincial assistance.
He says one street in the city of roughly 12,000 people will be closed until further notice, while other roads are being assessed and some have reopened.
BC Hydro's website shows most power has been restored, although a pocket of homes remained in the dark.
More than 100 millimetres of rain deluged the Peace Region on Monday and Tuesday.
A local emergency was also declared in Chetwynd on Tuesday and Bumstead says the declaration in Dawson Creek will remain in effect for seven days, unless it is rescinded or extended.
"After we assessed the damage that had happen during the storm and flooding, we felt moving into a local state of emergency was the next step," he says in a Facebook post.
"We need to ensure that the safety of our citizens are our priority and this is the next step."
