Ice jams prompt flooding concerns for homeowners near Smithers, B.C.
SMITHERS, B.C. — Residents on the southeast edge of Smithers, B.C., are on high alert as ice jams threaten to flood the area and force people from their homes.
Chunks of ice have been gradually backing up along the Bulkley River for the past two weeks, causing waters to rise and seep into basements and crawl spaces of some nearby homes, said Bill Miller, chairman of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako.
“It’s kind of like an orange peel, almost,” Miller said. ”It bunches up down the river and kind of piles up against one another.”
About 15 to 20 homeowners have been warned they may need to evacuate if the water level continues to go up.