Badger evacuation order expanded as Exploits River continues to rise
Some residents of Badger have evacuated their homes as ice and water levels rise in the Exploits River. This provincial webcam shows the river downstream east of the stadium as of around 4:30 p.m. Thursday. (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
The town of Badger is still on edge as water levels on the Exploits River continue to rise.
According to the provincial government Thursday night, all civic numbers in the following areas are under an evacuation order:
Beothuk Street
Earle Street
Kinsman Drive
Main Street
Park Street
River Road
Sheppard Street
All even civic numbers on the north side of Badger Drive must be evacuated. Civic numbers 34-76 and 33-99 inclusive on Maple Street must also be evacuated.
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Evacuated residents are asked to register at the Badger Community Centre at 19 Maple Street.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety said the province's emergency operations centre is at Level 2, meaning emergency partners are fully engaged.
"The river has risen again … it's flowing into different areas of the community as well," Mayor Dennis Butt said Thursday afternoon.
Butt said a buildup of ice in the river has caused a damming effect. On Wednesday evening, Butt said the town was two inches away from the kind of flood that happens just once every 20 years.
"All of the outlets, all of the bogs upstream, are starting to fill in. So with no further buffer for them to fill in, you know, there's nowhere else for [the water] to go other than … in the community."
Meanwhile, Butt is asking people not to panic, and to follow safety orders.
"We have everything under control,” Butt said. "Comply with the evacuation order, because that's first and foremost for the safety of the residents."
Updates for residents will be posted on the Community of Badger Facebook page.
This article was originally published for CBC News. With files from On The Go