Dozens of households were told to evacuate in Badger on Thursday, and other residents of the central Newfoundland town are anxiously waiting, as water rises in the three rivers surrounding the community.
The meeting point of the Exploits, Badger and Red Indian rivers is causing flooding in some areas.
According to the provincial government Thursday night, all civic numbers in the following areas are under an evacuation order:
All even civic numbers on the north side of Badger Drive must be evacuated. Civic numbers 34-76 and 33-99 inclusive on Maple Street must also be evacuated.
Evacuated residents are asked to register at the Badger Community Centre at 19 Maple Street.
Mayor Dennis Butt told CBC News that a buildup of ice in the river had caused a damming effect. On Wednesday evening, Butt said the town was two inches away from the kind of flood that happens just once every 20 years.
“All of the outlets, all of the bogs upstream, are starting to fill in. So with no further buffer for them to fill in, you know, there’s nowhere else for [the water] to go other than … in the community.”
Butt stressed the importance of following evacuation orders.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety said the province’s emergency operations centre is at Level 2, meaning emergency partners are fully engaged.
Updates are being posted on the Community of Badger Facebook page.
Badger isn’t a stranger to flooding, said resident Trina Hurley.
The situation this week brings back memories of a flood in 2003 that saw the evacuation of more than 1,000 people, she said.
“It’s in the back of everybody’s mind,” Hurley told Radio-Canada.
She said she remembers watching her husband walk through ice-filled water to help a young girl that year.
But with the flooding comes experience. Hurley said the people of Badger know what to do.
“Everybody relies on each other. And, you know, I’m sure we’ll get through it,” she said.
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