ATHABASCA - Woodlands County has issued an evacuation order for residents in the Township Road 620A area at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday to the Athabasca River and east of the Hamlet of Fort Assiniboine to Range Road 51.
They issued the order due to rising water which has the potential to cause overland flooding and washout roads. Peak flows are expected in Fort Assiniboine tonight and remain high through Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the county also issued a road closure alert for several roads, including the previously mentioned Township Road 620A at Range Road 53 and 54 east of Fort Assiniboine.
At about the same time, Woodlands County issued an evacuation alert to residents in the Whitecourt area due to rising waters on the McLeod River, including everyone on the Old Ferry Loop South and Cutbanks Road. Also included in the evacuation order are residents living on the Old Ferry Loop south of Township Road 594 to McLeod River, from Range Road 125 to Range Road 123C and west of McLeod River along Cutbanks Road near Range Roads 122, 123A, and 593A.
Everyone in the affected areas needs to evacuate immediately. Gather pets, important documents, and medication. A reception centre for Fort Assiniboine and McLeod River area residents is now open at Woodlands County Office, 1 Woodlands Lane in Whitecourt. Call 1-888-870-6315 to register and for information.
