The Nanaimo River continues to rise, fed by substantial rainfall over the last 48 hours and a rising tide. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FLOOD WATERS

VIDEO: Cedar residents evacuated as rains, rising tide contribute to area flooding

Nov 15, 2021 | 11:17 AM

UPDATE: 2:11 p.m. State of local emergency and evacuation orders issued for areas near the Nanaimo River, with the Little Qualicum River and Englishman River in Oceanside also affected.

A map of the impacted areas can be viewed at: rdn.bc.ca/emergency-alerts. Residents living in the affected areas have been contacted by local fire departments or search and rescue to assist with evacuations.

EARLIER: NANAIMO — Floodwaters and a rising tide are causing issues for residents in Cedar.

Extensive rain, which has washed out some area roads and forced highway closures across Vancouver Island, is also threatening some homes south of the city.

Carly Trobridge, search manager with Nanaimo Search and Rescue, told NanaimoNewsNOW they were tasked around 8 a.m. Monday morning to assist the North Cedar Fire Department with situation management and evacuations.

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“We’re urging the public to stay away from river banks. There are high flow advisories on most of our streams and rivers right now. Also for our member’s safety and North Cedar Fire’s safety, please stay away from Wilkinson Rd. and Raines Rd. as well.

Portions of Raines Rd., between Cedar and Chase River were underwater Monday morning with the neighbouring Naniamo River spilling over.

Areas south of Nanaimo will see a high tide of 14.1 feet at 2:45 p.m. on Monday, adding to substantial rainfall over the last 48 hours.

Trobridge said the waters had risen around three inches in the few hours since SAR arrived on scene.

“Water has breached Wilkinson Rd., Alice Rd. and Riverside Rd. down on the left side of the Cedar bridge. We’re working with our teams and North Cedar Fire Department to evacuate residents if they require.”

Trobridge said approximately six homes were evacuated already in low-lying areas closer to the river.

The area is also a notorious flood point with homes and roads affected on a regular basis.

A fire pit floats down the Nanaimo River near the Cedar bridge, after flood waters threatened several properties on Monday, Nov. 15. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

James Wesley, a maintenance worker with Snuneymuxw First Nation was out checking in with local residents. He said many choose to stay and have dealt with flooding almost yearly for decades.

“Last year was way worse than this. You couldn’t pass Cedar Rd., Wilkinson, you couldn’t come through that way. The only way to come into Cedar was to come from the highway in the south end.”

Rain is expected to taper off Monday afternoon, with high winds to following overnight and into Tuesday, Nov. 16.

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