UPDATE #4: The Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership Emergency Operations Centre has been deactivated. Crews will keep working into the early morning and will continue to assess the impacts of the flooding to determine whether any further action is required.
UPDATE #3: The emergency management partnership between municipalities in the Grande Prairie region has activated its operations centre in the wake of flooding in Beaverlodge. GPREP says the water is receding but people are still asked to avoid the area.
Emergency crews are pumping water away from affected areas. Others are assessing whether more resources are needed.
The water quality at the town’s water treatment plant has been tested and is good. However, residents are encouraged to stock up on drinking water.
People still experiencing flooding in buildings with natural gas at risk of being affected should contact ATCO Gas.
UPDATE #2: Highway 43 in Beaverlodge has now reopened.
UPDATE: Beaverlodge RCMP say traffic is being diverted away from Highway 43 at both the east and west ends of Beaverlodge. Drivers have to use Highway 722 to get around the town.
Both police and the fire department are working with other agencies on a fix for the situation. In the meantime, people are asked to avoid the area if possible.
The Town of Beaverlodge recorded 45.5 millimetres of rain in just two hours Wednesday, causing flooding across the area. Town staff say Highway 723 from Beaverlodge to Valhalla is being closed to traffic.
Highway 43 is also flooded. Town crews are trying to contain the water with barricades, and will get to properties will flooding as soon as possible.
The City of Grande Prairie is also seeing localized flooding and there have been reports of lightning strikes, power outages, and manhole covers off in multiple areas.
