PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — A First Nation near Port Alberni, B.C., expects to evacuate some homes as heavy rains cause rivers to flood.
Tseshaht Nation emergency preparedness co-ordinator Hugh Braker says the community has been sand bagging riverside properties and roads, but with up to 120 millimetres of rain expected by Wednesday, the risk for flooding remains high.
Out buildings including garages and carports have been damaged by flooding, but no homes have been affected yet.
Braker says six families who were forced to leave their homes on the weekend as a precaution were able to return, but a new round of evacuations is anticipated to begin Monday evening.
Braker says the reserve's major thoroughfare, Highway 4, is also expected to be washed out by rising water levels, posing challenges for emergency crews as they try to reach people.
The Tseshaht Nation declared a state of emergency on Friday and has been working with the province and Environment Canada to monitor the flood and take precautions.
