Stewart BC/Hyder AK cut off by flooding
We spent last weekend in Stewart BC/Hyder AK, both located at the end of a dead-end spur road off of the Cassiar Highway in NW British Columbia. It rained the entire time, from sprinkles to deluge. We thought that was just normal, it's a rainy area after all. But as we left the area Tuesday afternoon (9/6/2011) the river was starting to encroach across the roadway, the waterfalls had multiplied and the river, normally milky from the glacier that feeds it, had turned brown. The current was just ripping through the canyon upstream of town.
Next morning we learned on the news that the highway was shut down not long after we passed. Now there's a chunk of roadway missing and two bridges either out or in danger of failing. At least 30 campers are trapped in Stewart until the road reopens and that may be a long time. They were relocated to the municipal building parking lot because both rv parks in town were evacuated. No word on the Canadian news about how Hyder, which is in Alaska but only accessible by road via Stewart, is faring, but both towns are cut off except by sea or helicopter. Found the following photo on a news website.
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2009 Sprinter RB custom floorplan began conversion at SMB West in August 2010, delivered December 20, 2010. Diesel furnace/water heater (Espar D5), gaucho, porta potti, exterior shower, sink, fridge, micro, vent fan, cargo storage in rear.
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