Provincial specialists from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Ministry of Environment, as well as Emergency Management BC have made the determination to dismantle and remove two homes on the shorelines of the Cottonwood River near Quesnel to prevent imminent environmental damage due to continued erosion placing the residences at risk.

The affected homes have been under an evacuation order and owners have been contacted. RCMP were called on site to ensure public safety, and Emergency Social Services have been offered to provide immediate lodging assistance, help with moving and securing storage for belongings, counselling services, as well as support provisions for livestock.

The Province will carefully consider compensation options for the affected families and continue to work with the Cariboo Regional District to support, guide and provide access to resources as the flooding situation continues across the region. Technical experts from key ministries continue to regularly assess, monitor and take action on site where reasonable and feasible to do so.

The Cottonwood River is a meandering river with a known history of open water, log jam and ice jam flooding, and river bank erosion problems. The river is north of Quesnel in the Quesnel/Hixon and Landry Road area and remains under flood warning. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure continues to closely monitor the Quesnel-Hixon Road. The Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre has been activated and issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency on May 12, 2011. Eight residences are threatened due to bank erosion and flooding.

For more information on local emergency responses visit the Cariboo Regional District at www.cariboord.bc.ca and to learn more about this and other flood warnings and advisories in effect, visit http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.htm

Contact:

Media Relations

Northeast Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre

250 612-4159

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect