Flooding of the Somass River forces evacuation on Tseshaht First Nation

WATCH: Homes were being evacuated on the Tseshaht First Nation as the water levels continue to rise on Sunday. Officials say the Somass River is flooding its banks. All day, volunteers were working hard to save homes along the waterway. Skye Ryan reports.

Volunteers were in a race to fill sandbags on the Tseshaht First Nation on Sunday.

The fast-rising Somass River was spilling its banks, with many homes in the water’s path.

The alarm really went up in the First Nation Saturday afternoon when five homes were evacuated and 50 millimetres of rain was still in the forecast.

Volunteers have already filled more sandbags than they can count but they kept going knowing this will be the first line of defence against the rising flood waters.

Rudy Watts and his wife have also been told to evacuate their home and they were on their way out on Nov. 26.

“There’s something to be worried about all the time. You never know what’s going to happen what’s going to come up next,” Watts said.

Tseshaht’s Emergency Operations also learned on Sunday that homes are flooded up at Sproat Lake, and there’s so much water headed towards Alberni that wharves, big trees and even smashed boats are now bound for the Somass.

In the meantime, crews will keep sandbagging.

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