B.C. flooding news Friday: Thousands forced to flee as floods reach historic levels

It is a difficult day and weekend ahead for many British Columbians.

Thousands have been forced to flee their homes in the Boundary region as flood waters continue to rise.

There are residents in 930 homes on evacuation alert.

Officials say the flooding has not been this severe since the record-breaking floods of 1948.

Downtown Grand Forks has been hit hard with several streets closed or left with restricted access.

“This very difficult flooding situation is going to continue through tomorrow and possibly longer,” director for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Chris Marsh said. “We have every resource at our disposal working to help with evacuations, emergency response, and recovery for those people who are displaced.”

WATCH: Images of Grand Forks underwater Friday morning 

The rivers crested early Friday morning and houses south of the Kettle River are now flooded. The water continues to rise and residents are sandbagging to try and get ahead of the rushing water in other areas of the city.

Some residents have been stranded in their homes Friday morning.

Emergency Social Services are available for displaced residents at centres set up at the Grand Forks Curling Club and Midway Community Centre.

Lydia Greene, who lives in Grand Forks, sent Global News these photos of the shed in her backyard. She says they are praying that the shed doesn’t fall because if it does they will lose power and if power goes then the pumps stop pumping and water will get into their house. “At the moment it’s only in the basement,” she says.

WATCH: Archive footage of the widespread flooding in B.C. In 1948

Meanwhile, a home near Grand Forks collapsed on the banks of the Kettle River.

The river was moving fast enough to undercut the bank by several metres.

WATCH: House collapses on the banks of Kettle River

Okanagan flooding

The fight to save homes is also on near the Similkameen River, with officials expecting flooding not seen in 200 years.

The river has breached its banks in a number of locations around Keremeos and Cawston, closing Highway 3 for the foreseeable future.

A local state of emergency was declared in Keremeos Thursday to assist the local government in case further evacuations are necessary.

It is a dire situation near Okanagan Falls as well.

Shuttleworth Creek is flooding local streets there, forcing the evacuation of 54 properties.

Residents were later allowed to go back to their homes, but the area remains on evacuation alert.

WATCH: Fifty-four properties now on evacuation order in Okanagan Falls after Shuttleworth Creek breached its banks

Barb Parker lives on Brockie Place, one of the streets that have been hit hardest by flooding.

“Our neighbour’s driveway is basically a river you could take a canoe through. We are just lucky we are on about four feet higher ground,” Parker said.

“We are not panicked yet. We do have an escape route and a truck to get out if we need to.”

She said some of her neighbours’ homes have been evacuated.

“We got waterfront property that we didn’t want.”

She estimates some parts of her street are under 15 to 20 centimetres of water.