Provincial highways closed due to flooding in Lac La Biche

A recent update from Lac La Biche County states that all provincial highways in Lac La Biche are closed to all non-essential travel. Anyone that does travel today throughout the hamlet is asked to take extreme measures to make sure safety is top priority.

Those that have essential travel plans today should be keeping up to date on the updates provided by the County and Alberta Emergency Alert. As of 10 am, all Alberta Emergency Alerts for the Lac La Biche area have been removed.

Lac La Biche residents received an Emergency Alert on June 7, at 8:38 pm warning them that due to overland flooding the area is in a State of Local Emergency. There was a mandatory evacuation order for anyone who lives near Highway 55, west of 105 Street, Mission Road, and Nashim Drive. People in the affected areas were asked to register at the Bold Center’s Devon Room, and then they would be placed in a hotel room for the night. 

Currently, there is a build up of 6 to 8 inches of water on Highway 881 by Big Bay Corner, and the turnoff leading to Touchwood Lake has water that is very close to flooding the water.

The water on Highway 36 by Kikino Silver Birch Resort has subsided, and Highway 55 is still closed due to washout.

“We’re just trying to keep everyone safe,” says Lac La Biche Mayor Omer Moghrabi. “No need to panic, we just want to make sure people are keeping themselves safe and take their valuables out of the basements.”

The County has a 24-hour helpline for the flooding issue. If there are questions or concerns regarding the flooding, call (780) 623-6393.