UPDATE: The evacuation alerts for Crofton and Chemainus have been cancelled.
Evacuation alerts were still in place for several areas of the Cowichan Valley as of Wednesday afternoon after recent heavy rain, coupled with snow melt and king tide events.
An evacuation alert was issued on Boxing Day for numerous properties on Chemainus Road, Crofton Road, Amos Road and Swallowfield Road after weather conditions created a perfect storm that caused concern that the water levels in the Chemainus River would continue to rise rapidly Tuesday.
A total of 18 properties on Chemainus Road, east of the Halalt First Nation and south of Ashcroft Road; six on Crofton Road north of Tsussie Road; six on Amos Road, south of Ashcroft Road; and two on Swallowfield Road are subjected to the evacuation alert.
The alert was issued to ensure property owners make preparations to evacuate their premises or property should it be necessary.
Heavy overnight rain on Sunday and a morning king tide event did not impact the water levels on the Chemainus River as much as was feared, however, allowing Chemainus and Crofton Roads at Pinson’s Corner to be reopened Tuesday after flood waters from the Chemainus River receded the previous evening.
RELATED STORY: RECEDING WATERS ALLOW CHEMAINUS AND CROFTON ROADS TO REOPEN
With rain in the forecast for the remainder of the week, the situation is volatile and could change at a moment’s notice, so evacuation alerts remain in effect.
But Environment Canada has not issued any weather alerts for the Cowichan Valley as of Dec. 28.
Cowichan Tribes also issued an evacuation alert for a number of properties on Boxing Day.
The alert went out for people living in the areas of Sahilton Road, Wil’seem Road and Tzouhalem Road between Jimmy and Cowichan Bay roads, and remains in place.
RELATED STORY: COWICHAN TRIBES PROPERTIES UNDER EVACUATION ALERT DUE TO FLOODING
As well, tree branches falling across power lines after a short wind event struck the region left approximately 1,600 BC Hydro customers in the downtown core of Duncan in the dark on Tuesday morning.
In addition, a large swathe of Lake Cowichan lost their power on Boxing Day from approximately 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., also due to tree branches falling on power lines, but BC Hydro crews fixed the problem.
But power remained out for about 40 residences in the Caycuse area, located west of Saseenos Road and Youbou Road, and BC Hydro brought in a helicopter to try and find out the source of the problem.
BC Hydro’s power outage map showed that the problem was dealt with as of Wednesday morning.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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