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.
A spokesperson at the Emergency Operations Centre says a king tide is expected to peak at around 2:15 p.m. PT, and emergency personnel are still assessing the situation.
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.
