Residents urged to evacuate as New Brunswick floodwaters rise

CAPTION: People in areas along the Saint John River in New Brunswick are being urged to evacuate as floodwaters threaten to surpass record levels. The Saint John fire chief says people could lose sewage and water services. (May 2, 2018) 1. SOUNDBITE: Kevin Clifford, Saint John fire chief PLACELINE: Saint John, New Brunswick CREDIT: The Canadian Press STORYLINE: People were urged to evacuate their homes Wednesday as rising floodwaters threatened to surpass record-setting water levels along the Saint John River, with one fire chief warning: "This could get very uncomfortable." Saint John Fire Chief Kevin Clifford said waters could rise to 6.6 metres above sea level on Sunday, an alarming forecast that could bring some of the worst flooding to low-lying areas along the river. "We're very concerned that the flooding will be unprecedented beyond even the 2008 and 1973 floods," Clifford said in an interview. "So we've issued a recommended evacuation. I think what we need to do is press harder on the fact that people are going to lose their services." He said if the forecasts are accurate, this flood could bring more water than the two historic floods. "The evidence suggests that this is going to be worse and longer," he said. The Emergency Measures Organization said access to several areas in Saint John, including Randolph, Westfield Road, Ragged Point Road and Beach Road, is limited and will likely be completely cut off by worsening flooding in a region the stretches from Fredericton — where parts of downtown have been under water for days — to the Saint John area.