-The McLeod River did what experts had been expecting and over-spilled its banks yesterday in part of Woodlands County.
It’s caused severe flooding and has washed out roads in the Whitecourt region.
Most of the golf and country club is under water right now.

Officials say thankfully the Athabasca River isn’t rising anymore, so it’s the McLeod River that’s causing the problem.
The town of Whitecourt says there’s an “evacuation advisory” in place, and everyone in the affected area has to be prepared to leave within an hour’s notice. (photos used with permission from Yellowhead County and John Bosman)

Due to rising water levels, Festival Park is closed to the public until further notice. This includes the Off-Leash Dog Park and the surrounding trail system in and out of Festival Park through to 47 Street remains closed. Please obey all posted signs and barricades.

Other public areas closed include:

– The pathway located under the Highway 43 McLeod River Bridge.

– 47 Street north of Flats Road.

– The Whitecourt Golf and Country Club.

– Riverboat Park.

 

UPDATE AS OF 10:41AM :

Woodlands County is assessing roads, subdivisions and other areas impacted by the floods. Updates will be provided when available.

West Mountain Road is CLOSED at Tower Rd to Twp Rd 592. Use RR 121 and cut across at Twp Rd 591.
Flats Road beyond the Whitecourt town boundary is CLOSED.

DO NOT BYPASS OR MOVE BARRICADES
AVOID ALL AREAS UNDER EVACUATION ALERT AND ORDER
RE-ENTRY INTO EVACUATED AREAS IS NOT PERMITTED

DO NOT TRAVEL THROUGH WATER COVERED ROADS, USE ALTERNATE ROUTES

Evacuation ORDERS remain in place:

Along the McLeod River, Old Ferry Loop, Twp Rd 594 to the McLeod River. Properties along Cutbanks Rd/Twp Rd 593A; West Mountain Rd, north to Stratton Ave, west to the McLeod River; and low-lying properties on Stratton Ave.
Flats Rd, east of Whitecourt, south of the Athabasca to the rail line
East of Fort Assiniboine along Twp Rd 620A, to RR 51, south to the Athabasca River.

The Reception Centers at both municipal offices are open. Evacuees can contact the numbers below for more information.

Whitecourt Office: 1 Woodlands Lane (1-888-870-6315)
Fort Assiniboine Office: 61053A Highway 33 (780-584-3866)

 

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-While the Whitecourt region is being inundated with water, an evacuation order is still in effect for Lower Robb in Yellowhead County.

-Officials are pleading with people to stay off the riverbanks, because they’re extremely unstable right now.

The McLeod River is running incredibly high and fast right now.
Yesterday it grabbed someone’s shed and hauled it fully intact, with rakes and shovels still hanging off the side, until it slammed into a bridge in the Peers region.
The impact destroyed the building.