More evacuation alerts issued in Prince George

The ice jam on the Nechako River grew another kilometre overnight Sunday, reaching 9.5 km by Monday morning and prompting Prince George city officials to issuenewevacuation alerts.

City officials issued the new alerts to residents upstream from the jam, including seven houses in the Morning Place area and one on North Nechako Road, warning themto be prepared to leaveif conditions get worse.

Warmer temperatures are forecast for later this week, but city clerk Don Schaffer told CBC Newson Mondayit is unclear if thatis good news or bad news.

"If the Nechako River ice were to flush itself out, it needs somewhere to go, and the Fraser [River] has a skin of ice over top of it, so that ice doesn't have anywhere to go at this point," said Schaffer.

City officials are warning residents the jam remainsunsafe, making the ice subject to sudden and dramatic shifts.

Crews are working to extend wire and plastic Gabion dikes along the river andplace more sandbags to try to containpossible flooding.

"What we'll do today is go in with some equipment and clear snow away and that clearing will make it easier for us to install gabion diking tomorrow," said Schaffer.

About 17 homes and several businesses remain under an evacuation order and many others are still on evacuation alert.

A local state of emergency, which was declared by the city on Dec.11 when the ice jam first formed at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, remains in effect.

Efforts to hold back rising waters and protect area residents havecost more than $1 million.

Many homes and businesses have been flooded by the water spilling over the river banks, but other homes have also been damaged by rising ground water seeping up through house foundations, said Schaffer.