Lakelse was one of the worst hit by the flood by Brion Gregg Grim-faced residents of Lakelse Lake are salvaging their homes after the worel flooding in that area since 1935 and reconstriction of roads, telephone ant power lines are in progress. One resident shook his head and fought back tears when asked how the situation was, Other residents just siiook their heads and said their neighbourhood was ina mess and they had never seen anything like it. People living near Granite Creek on First Ave. were shoveling, mud from their homes on Sunday, The creek overflowed its banks and went through the people's yards. High winds, sometimes reaching as much as 115 mph, knocked cabins off thelr posts and then the waters came to wreck fur- ther carnage. Mel Johnstone, a helicopter pilot who lives at the lake, was one of the le who was badly hurt Ey last week's deluge. The floor of his home moved up and down one foot with the OTHERS ALRIGHT Some were just wiped out by Gary Kingston One week ago, James Wallington’s commercial trout farm on the Skeena River at Cedarvale, about 60 kilometres north of here, was stocked with close to 7,000 fish. Now it’s empiy, nine yenrs of hard work washed away by flooding that ac- companied heavy rains that hit this region. “He's spent nine years working on that farm and had about $20,000 worth of fish,” said Wallington's son, Glen. “The water just rose right over the dykes he had built and destroyed everything.” The rain-swollen river, which has nov subsided, also caused several thousand dollars damage to Wallington’s house, “The house was com- pletely flooded,” Glen Wallington said. “He had to cut a hole through the living room wall to let the water run through.” "It's just been a tough week all around for the wari Gite % soe ore, Fo ate SR ae: ee Z rm aa ¥ Pes oo vo: Department of Hig a hak fy ares i r ” . : rd * s rcs et 3 +e Fe 3 family,” said Wallington, whose brother was in ital with a broken neck suffered in an accident on a washed out sectlon of High- way 16. “I don't know what my dad's going to do now to recover his losses.”* Wallington und dozens of others in similar situations are looking to the provincial government for ald but they had not, aa of Saturday designated the area for disaster relief. The provincial govern- ment - set up an emergency relief centre and coordinator Barney Lane wes up Friday looking over the area. “we're just telling peaple to keep track of all their losses and wait until the provincial government gives some sort of direction in the matter," said. Lane, "We were aut to view the whole thing by helicopter and the road west is in fairly good shape and they an- ticipate having it open tomorrow Lane said, (Saturday),"’ a A hways is waves, said Lloyd John- stone, his father. “It is impossible to , estimate the damage at this point,” Lloyd Johnstone said. “It is a bad time of year...nothing will dry out during winter. If this had happened in Apri] we would have been better off.” The lake on Saturday at noon waa still higher than the last flood which occurred in 1958, he said. The road to Ole’s Place is severed in two places bet- ween Third Ave. and First Ave. Flooding created a ‘Phere are still some communities in the Cedarvale and Kitwancool area that have no facilities. We're arranging now to take in immediate needs— medicines, perhaps baby formulas and to evacuate anybody who may he ill.” Lane said there have been no serious problems wilh medical care or lack of food, but ‘if some of these com- Munities don’t vet access to the oulside within the sext two or three days, then the pressure will buiid up."” The bridge and road washouts along Highway 16 have isolated several small communities beside the highway, bul have not broken the spirit of the residents. Power and telephone service was restored to most areas by Friday and helicopters with, PEP per- sonnel were flying in Saturday to check for im- mediate needs such as food and medical. ’ “We're alright here," said Sadgeway of , Marge ios: ante rey ; re gully between First Ave, and the shoreline at Ole's Place. That whole area is littered with drifiwoed, although the water has moved back towards the shoreline. B.C, Tel crews and B.C. Hydro crews were working together last weekend to bring power and telephoxe service back to the residents. In some places packages of food, like thawed sirloia steaks, have been discarded among piles of garbage in people’s yards. Many residents weat without power for three days. Cedarvale. ‘‘The power came back on fast night (Friday). That was our biggest worry because we didn'(have any more coal oil to light the stoves. We've all got food though. Nobody's . going to starve to death.” One of the biggest worries now for peaple in the outlying areas is the isolation factor. Residents in Cedarvale and Woodeock, another five kilometres north, could be without road access to Terrace for several more days. Several school-age ahildren were unable to return home after the rains washed out Highway 16. They are being billeted in Terrace as are other residents of cut-off areas. “T just found oul yesterday (Friday) where one of my daughters is.staying,”’ said Ruth Hayward of Woodcock. | | still don't know where the others are.” “That's the toughest parl aboul being out here with nc radio or telephone contact But al least [ know they're all right.” F rs a eo ra nn py hae SE ye Mee gE. hag Cees *. so ay a rc adding up the total damage Jarsma happy to be home by Grog Middleton Joseph Jaysma tothing but good words for — survey crew who t eare of him and his friend, James Wallington, while they were trapped on the highway between washouts following a car accident. Jarsma, who lives on ww a Highway 16 East one mile west of Price Creek, and Wallington, who lives in Kitwanga, spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning tra after their truck went off the end of a washed out bridge, Wallington is still In Milla Memorial Hospital with a fractured neck from (OF Jarsma embraces his family the accident, The pair were airlifted out by belicopter Thursday and taken lo hospital. Jarsma was treated and released. Jarsma said in an in- terview in the taking him back to his wite and family who were stranded on their farra that it was fortunate the survey crew was there. “We would realiy have been up the creek,” Jarsma sald as he described how the four-wheel-drive trick went off the end of the washed out bridge and inlo the gravel bar there, He said they knew they were cut off on the west by the mudslide an! were deing about 49 miles an hour as they approached the bridge. Jarsma, who said he was driving, said everything looked fine and that they had no indication that the bridge was out. “We just went off the end of the bridge, head on,” Jareme said. He said’ Wallington was knocked unconscious in the aceldent. Jersma said he had the wind knocked out of him and hia foot was caught in the helicupter * peddies but he worked himself loose so he couls help his friend. Jarsma said the survey crew was right there and they helped carry Wallington away from the car. The survey crew radioed in for help but were Lold there was no way to get to toem because of the weather, The two spent what Jar- sma described as a painful night, Wallington regained consciousness and was in quite a bit of pain, according to Jarsma who suffered a number of cuts and bruises and was sill limping Saturday, Jarsma said he was finally able lo get in Louch with his wife Judy on Friday. He said she was fine and the house was alright but lhat they had lost a couple of calves, Judy and the children came out of the couple's homestend at the sound of the helicopter and Jarsma limped away from the cralt, turning to wave goodbye to the pilot and Highways Department District Manager Mike O'Conner who was also on the flight. As the helicopter took off again the family moved In to help Jarsma into the house. David Bowen-Colthurst, owner of Water Lily Bay Resort, saya he hopes people will now Hsten = to his suggestion ‘that creeks and {| rivers into Lakelse Lake should be controlled. He sald it is impossible to control the amount of water flowing through streams but § the flow inte the lake can be controlled. Bowen-Colthurst Si is a former director af the Regional District of Kitimat- Stikine and his proposal was not accepted b the department of fisheries @ because it said such controls would affect the delicate spawning grounds. His home at Water Lily Bay began to flood on Wednesday night, he said. "We had everything up, but it just wasn't up high enough,” he said. There is about three feet of water throughout his home. Boats are overturned in small trees at the resort. Other boats are partially sunk where people used ta drive their cars up to put boats into the water, Barrels for gasoline and propane lie in bushes where high waters carried them. : The damage to boats at the lake is unknown but it is: expected to be high. Everyone at the lake is stil. J reeling from the heavy blow to their homes and their lifestyle. PY oe ah) Milk, food and gas coming Terrace-Kitimat residents were unable to buy milk late Saturday afternoon and carly today but supplies were expected to be in the stores by early this af- fernoon. district Bill. Ingles, manager for Dairyland, said. some people paniced when they heard there was a milk shortage and bought more ihan they needed. A barge carrying + Ibs. of milk for Terrace aii” Kitimat was expected to arrive from Vancouver at Kitimat about 3 a.m, today for the two communities. An estimated 3,00 Ibs. of milk are needed each day. Similar barges are expecicd to arrive al Kitimat on Tuesday and Thursday, he said. Milk for this area is shipped from Smithers on Highway 16 but the highway is not expected to be open. until Kiiday. ingles sald there should be enough Vanerouver milk to supply Terrace and Kitimat, If people do not panic and buy more than they need. Terrace’s biggest problem seems to he for customers of Pacific Novthern Gas who have been asked to keep their furnaces set at 60 degrees to conserve fuel during the present shortage. Crews are working around be clock to construct 2 pass near the main line which is broken 26 miles from the Copper River Bridge, said John Low, ma inager of sales and ser- ce, He said the biggest problem is going to be the weather but under fair conditions the bypass should be completed by Tuesday or Wednesday. When the bypass is completed the company will be able to pressure up the system back to Prince George so that if there are any future breaks elsewhere in the line the gas can be contained until needed repairs are made, said Low. Company customers are cor vating, he sald, and the estire: cs for fuel con- servation ¢“' 49 repair work seem to be veeccate at this point. The company is tnd Nydro bo, me Proviretal Electrical Hab ey on Depart- meut han iamued the followizg general statement in connection with wiring: All electric wiring in homes, barns and other buitdings which have been partially or fully covered by flood waters is required tobe inspected by the Provincial Inspector or an Electrical Contractor before again being pul into service. Provincial Inspectors will be avallable as flood waters recede and access to the buildings becomes possible, and shall label the wiring to show the condition found on inspection. Residenta of flood areas on returning about the 6,000 feet al pipeline that is in the river. There are not any breaks yet, he said, but snather deluge could create problems. The Copper River wastied oul the road ta where the line was broken. Law said irees and stumps were found washed out 86 feet above where the normal river bank is. “The river has set a new course," he said. Terrace supermarket managers say there is no eause for alarm as far as food supplies are concerned. Mest of the stores were flying perishable items into “errace late last week ani more food was expected to arrive at Kitimat on barges today. “It's going to take a while to get back to normal," said Brian Piwek, manager of Overwaitea. Food supplies will be back to normal as soon as the highway is reopened, Terrace Co-op will be baking bread for _ its customers during the four- hour period each day it is allowed by Pacific Northern Gas to operate, All stores say they can fill normal orders for food but problems can be created if people hoard food items by buying more than they require, "185 4a warning ho:.. Po A bat iF the maic - ot pulled open be » they should open ~ by standing on a i) and using @ stich 20 peal) the switch lever to ‘‘open’’ position and then arrangd for inspection before placing the wiring in service. All loose wires, sither outside or within any building, should .be con- sidered “allve” ani con- stituting a definite hazard to the public, particularly: ta children. It is necessary that all fuse plugs protecting individual circuits be not larger than 15 ampere capacity, so (hat witing and appliances shall have reasonable protection against a short circuit. In view of the foregoing statement, and because in most of the flooded areas electric service has been cut at the pole or building, reconnection cannot be made until the inspection requirements are met, Where necessary, a certified electrical contractor may inspect the wiring system and report the results to the District Electrical In- spector. (Note that in this event the contractor's fee would be paid by the property owner.) If the in- speclor 18 satisfied with the report, he will authorize reconnection by the electric titility.