The Comox Valley Regional District said the local state of emergency declared Friday in response to flooding has been lifted.
CVRD chair Will Cole-Hamilton said staff responded quickly as conditions developed and he thanked local organizations and non-profits for assisting with rescue efforts and evacuations.
He reminded residents to stay clear of rivers, noting that water levels are still receding.
“We have lifted the state of emergency, but the rivers and waterways are still something to respect and back away from right now,” Cole-Hamilton said. “This is not the time to be close to the river’s edge.”
Cole-Hamilton also praised staff for setting up the Emergency Operations Centre quickly and supporting residents who were forced to evacuate.
“Our emergency staff, they train for this, they set the Emergency Operations Centre in minutes,” Cole-Hamilton said. “It was running and fully staffed.”
The regional district said about 150 people were affected by flooding across the region and that damage assessments are ongoing.
The flooding prompted evacuation orders and alerts for several properties. Those measures were lifted Saturday.
Most affected parks and trails have also reopened, including Lewis Park in Courtenay, the district said.
Local floods were prompted by heavy rain overnight Thursday, Jan. 29, into Friday morning. The BC River Forecast Centre issued a flood warning for the mouth of Dove Creek, which was rescinded over the weekend.
