TIFFANY CRAWFORD
Vancouver Sun
An evacuation alert has been issued by the Cowichan Tribes First Nation, as a flood watch was issued Saturday for East Vancouver Island.
In a news release, the First Nation says river levels are rising quickly and heavy rainfall may lead to flooding.
Residents of Quamichan west, Clem Clem, Wil鈥檚eem Road, Sahilton Road, Tyup Road, Joe Road, and Green Point or Khenipson Road have been told they may receive little notice to leave due to changing conditions.
鈥淧eople with mobility issues are strongly encouraged to leave now and identify their transportation options,鈥� the release said.
On Saturday, the sa国际传媒 River Forecast Centre issued a flood watch for East Vancouver Island from Nanaimo to Fanny Bay including the Englishman River, Nanaimo River and surrounding tributaries.
The agency said early Saturday that in the past 48-hours some locations on Vancouver Island had 50 to 110 millimetres of rain, while in the past 24-hours up to 90 millimetres had soaked Eastern Vancouver Island.
Metro Vancouver, meantime, is under a high streamflow advisory, along with much of Vancouver Island, Squamish, the Fraser Valley, and the Sunshine Coast.
Rivers are forecast to reach their highest flows later Saturday or overnight into Sunday.
The agency is warning the public to stay away from the fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks during the high-streamflow period.