Parts of the Town of Peace River are on Flood Alert. The Alberta Emergency Alert was issued at 4:49pm on Thursday, April 23.
The alert was issued due to a significant run of ice and debris on the Heart River, which has formed an ice jam near the mouth of Peace River. There is a risk that this buildup could lodge against the bridge, potentially raising water levels enough to overtop the berms in the surrounding area.
The alert is for those from the Highway 2 Bridge to 104 Ave in the South End. Essentially, all of the Downtown, and areas close to the Heart River. Those in this area should prepare for a possible evacuation on very short notice for at least 3 days. This includes ensuring your vehicles are fueled, important documents are gathered, pets, and you have needed medication, along with food and water.
At this time, no evacuation is required. The public is advised to avoid the area.
The Town of Peace River has also declared a Local State of Emergency due to the potential for flooding in low-lying areas as river break up continues.
This grants the Town additional authority to respond quickly and take necessary measures to protect residents, property, and critical infrastructure.
The Local State of Emergency was declared at 5:46 p.m. on April 23.
The Peace River ice cover remains intact. As of Thursday, evening (April 23) the Smoky River ice jam remains in place at the mouth of the Smoky. According to Alberta River Basins, the jam is now about 6.5km in length and water levels remain elevated.
The Peace River ice front continues to retreat steadily, now 42 km from the Highway 2 bridge at the Town of Peace River.
A dynamic snowmelt driven breakup of the Smoky River ice before the ice front passes the Town of Peace River can initiate breakup of the Peace River and can increase the ice jam flood risk at the Town of Peace River. In a Town issued noticed earlier today (April 23), there is the potential the Smoky River ice jam remains in place. According to the Town, “best case scenario, the ice holds in place and gradually melts. If that happens, we would remain in a heightened monitoring period until the ice clears.” The Town notes, this scenario may take four to five days as it would wait for the Peace River ice front to reach this area.
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