A once in a lifetime event for Smithers

As the Telkwa water flows into the Bulkley river, Smithers prepares for what many say will be something not seen in a lifetime.

Smithers braces for once-in-a-lifetime flood event
The Bulkley River is beginning to spill over its banks in Smithers.
By Ryan Jensen
9:30:25AM, Jun 06 2007

The Town of Smithers has not been evacuated.

Despite national and provincial media reports that the entire town has been cleared, only residents living along Riverside Drive, the Fall Fairgrounds and a selection of homes on Ebenezer Flats have been given evacuation notices.

Rumours of widespread power outages have also proven to be false at this time, said BC Hydro community relations coordinator Bob Gammer.

"No planned outages for any community are scheduled," he said. "Safety-related emergency disconnections to individual residences will take place as necessary due to high water."

On Tuesday, Bruce McGonical, who is monitoring the level of the Bulkley River on behalf of the community, said he anticipates the Bulkley River to rise another 25 centimetres with the inflow contribution of the Telkwa River.

"The residents of the Bulkley Valley may soon witness a once-in-a-lifetime flood event never before seen in the Bulkley Valley since settlement of SMithers in 1913," he said.

The real danger, he said, is for residents living on the flood plain near the Telkwa River.

"Flood plain residents adjacent to the Telkwa River should be on high alert over the next 48 hours," McGonigal said.