Residents on the east side of Farrell Street have been ordered out of their homes, due to the imminent danger of flooding on the Fraser River.
The evacuation order was issued at 3 p.m. on Sunday, after the City of Prince George declared a local state of emergency. The evacuation order effects 10 homes.
Farrell Street resident Tina Tubrett said it's the first time she and her family have been evacuated in the three years they've lived on the street.
"It's very disruptive and stressful," Tubrett said. "I'm hoping it's for too long. [But] the number one thing is we're all safe."
Tubrett said she is not too worried about her home, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
"We're at the higher end of the street... but you never know," she said.
For other residents, flooding has become a routine every few years.
"I've been here for 10 years, so I've been through this a few times," Farrell Street resident Alfred Aiello said. "I've never seen it come right up to the trailer, but you never know."
Aiello said he packed up some of his possessions when residents were issued an evacuation alert on Saturday night. At 9:15 p.m. on Saturday the B.C. River Forecast Centre upgraded the high streamflow advisory on the Fraser River to a flood warning.
According to the river forecast centre, the level of the Fraser River at the South Fort George monitoring site rose from 7.97 metres to 8.75 metres between 4 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. on Saturday.
At 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, Environment Canada posted the river level at South Fort George as 9.54 metres - well above the average level of just under seven metres for this time of year.
Daisy Heyman and Rick Kingdon could watch the river flowing under their deck, Sunday afternoon.
"I definitely have some concerns. My daughter lives next door, so I'm watching their place as well," Heyman said. "You should have seen the debris floating down the river earlier. There was big gobs of debris... and huge trees floating down."
Prince George Fire Chief John Lane said fire fighters and police have gone door to door to warn residents. Homes on Lansdowne Road may be the next to be evacuated. Sections of the street were still on an evacuation alert Sunday evening.
"They are our lowest-lying areas and unless the river gets quite high, in the order of 10 metres, it doesn't tend to effect any other areas," Lane said. "The river currently is still rising, but it is rising more slowly than it was yesterday."
Light, but ongoing, rain upstream on the Fraser and along tributaries like the McGregor River was blamed for the rising water levels.
Lane warned residents to avoid approaching the river bank, because flood waters can erode banks from underneath. The water is cold, murky and very fast.
"It's awesome in the true sense of the word. The size of the debris going by is incredible," Lane said.
Boating, swimming or any other recreational activity on the Fraser or the Nechako River is not recommended, he said.
"The Nechako is certainly running high and fast, but it is not flooding anywhere."
City Hall has been designated the reception centre for displaced residents. All displaced residents are eligible for 72 hours of food, clothing and shelter costs through the B.C. evacuation support program.
The city is asking everyone in the flood area to register by going to City Hall or calling 250-561-7640.
For updates, visit the city's website at www.princegeorge.ca.
