Mackenzie County Reeve, Josh Knelsen is 37 and says he has never seen a flood like this in the area.
“It certainly is the worst I have seen and I think anyone close to my age,” says Knelsen. “it’s bad, it’s really bad.”
An evacuation alert was issued last Thursday by the county for low lying areas of Fort Vermilion, and it became an order last night.
This was due to an ice jam in the Peace River between Fort Vermilion and Sunny Valley.
“The evacuation went well,” points out Knelsen. “The last I heard, over 200 people have been successfully evacuated.”
He adds it is impossible to estimate when people in the affected areas can go back home.
“Every time a jam occurs, the water levels rises and we don’t know to what extend it will rise, but it is looking worse than I think what most people have seen in their lifetimes here.”
The county is also asking people to respect their water usage for the time being.
A bulletin says that the water treatment plans cannot keep up with the demand, and a boil water advisory will have to be issued if the demand keeps up.
Knelsen did mention that no one’s life is in danger but is asking people to think of the residents in the affected areas.
“Please say a little prayer for everyone in the Hamlet of Fort Vermilion, and those downstream,” asks Knelsen. “All we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
– Kenny Trenton
