PEACE RIVER, Alta. — A flood warning has been issued for the rain-swollen Smoky River near the Hamlet of Watino in northwestern Alberta.
Birch Hills County has declared a state of local emergency and issued a mandatory evacuation order for people in the remote area.
The county says people should leave immediately and report to a reception centre at Tangent Community Hall.
Reeve Gerald Manzulenko says the safety and well-being of residents is the top priority.
The county is urging people to stay away from river edges and low–lying areas.
The county has a population of about 1,600.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 3, 2020
The Canadian Press