More flooding in the forecast for Courtenay

Residents and business owners in Courtenay, B.C., are being warned to prepare for more flooding on Tuesday afternoon and throughout the coming week as high tides and heavy rains threaten to flood local rivers once again.

Mayor Greg Phelps first declared a local state of emergency overnight Monday after high water levels in local rivers forced the evacuation of about 40 people from a downtown trailer park.

By Tuesday morning the situation appeared to be easing. But then later in the morning the city began advising businesses in the Puntledge Road area and Maple Pool Campground residents to be on alert for more flooding coinciding with a high tide in the nearby river mouth at 2:18 p.m. PT.

B.C.'s River Forecast Centre has also posted flood warnings for the Tsolsum, Puntledge and Browns Rivers, and for the Nanaimo River, further south on the island.

The city, which is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island, also opened a local community centre for residents who had been evacuated, closed several roads and the Fifth Street bridge, and urged drivers to avoid the city's downtown core.

Most of the closed roads have since been reopened, but officials say more closures are possible if the floodwaters return.

State of emergency to remain

Phelps said he plans to keep the state of emergency in effect for several days because there are very high tides forecast through the week and more heavy rain in the forecast.

"That gives us the power to keep things like the reception centre and the people in the emergency shelters," said Phelps.

Residents in low-lying areas of Courtenay were evacuated in mid-November when heavy rains, melting snow and high tides pushed the Puntledge, Courtenay, Tsolum and Browns Rivers over their banks.

Further south on the island, residents of Duncan and Cowichan were alsoordered out oftheir homeslast November, but so far this week, that area has not been affected by flooding.