People in Medicine Hat are bracing for flooding and a mandatory evacuation order is in place for the southern Alberta city.
The city is focusing its efforts on safety and critical infrastructure and barriers are being installed around city facilities.
Officials expect the water levels to rise throughout the day and predict very high levels by midnight.
The Finlay Bridge and Maple Ave Bridge will be closed if necessary and there will be road closures in the area.
Transit buses are being used to ferry people to the Evacuation Centre at the Medicine Hat College and the Red Cross is on site and ready to help out.
City officials say the gas will be turned off in homes and businesses in the evacuation area by 2:00 p.m. Saturday.
One lift station has been shut down and bylaw officers will enforce the outdoor mandatory water restriction.
Officials are urging residents to stay away from the evacuation zone and surrounding areas so emergency personnel can get in quickly.
An information hotline is up and running at 403-502-8900 and updates will be posted on the City of Medicine Hat’s website.
Inmates at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre have been transferred to institutions in Calgary and Lethbridge. Friends and families attempting to locate inmates are asked to contact 403-529-2111.
