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The Comox Valley Regional District, a community of about 72,000 people on mid-Vancouver Island, has issued a state of local emergency in response to current flood conditions.
Earlier on Friday, the City of Courtenay, one of three municipalities in the Comox Valley, issued a flood warning for Dove Creek and the surrounding areas due to “very heavy” rainfall.
The city said river flows were higher than what is expected during a 100-year flood event.
Near the downtown area, Lewis Park and the Lewis Centre were closed earlier in the day due to high water levels nearby.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a flood warning — meaning that flooding was imminent — for the Courtenay and Tsolum rivers, as well as Dove Creek, on Friday afternoon.
In the warning, the provincial forecast centre says that a series of storms that had moved into coastal B.C. are expected to continue over the next few days.
“Stay safe in and around rivers through the region,” the warning reads. “Be prepared for driving conditions and potential road washouts and check local conditions on DriveBC.ca.”
‘Massive amount of water’: MLA
Local MLA Brennan Day was checking in on residents at the Maple Pool Campground and RV Park, where many people live in recreational vehicles.
Photos and video from the area show the campground was flooded.
“There is a massive amount of water coming down the river, and the dam is currently overtopping at Comox Lake,” Day said from the area.
Day said the regional district would be evacuating the campground, as well as three properties on Stephen Road.
Earlier Friday, Day was at his parents’ property in Dove Creek, and he said the river was “raging.”
The regional district is warning people to say away from flood-prone areas and fast-moving water.
