Flood preparations underway in northern B.C.

Flood watches are now in effect for the Bulkley River in northwest B.C. and the Peace in the province's northeast as weather systems move through the regions, bringing heavy and sustained rain.

• Floodprep 101: how to protect your home and belongings

"We'regonnasee nearly half the total month's worth of rain fall in a couple of days," said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

Up to 80 millimetresis expected to fall in the north and south Peace, and the southern sections of the Fort Nelson region.

"It's ... a prolonged rainfall event."

For the Bulkley Valley and The Lakes regions, up to 60 millimetres could fall by Saturday.

Deja-vuof 2016

Sarah Griffith remembers June 2016 very well. Last year, floodsforced about 60 people to flee their homes in Dawson Creek.

"It was very taxing on all our guys," said Griffith, who works for Caribou Road Services Ltd.

She and her highways maintenance co-workers dealt with heavy rain, and damaging floods.

In a span of just 24 hours, up to 100 millimetresof rain fell. It flooded roads and highways, destroyed infrastructure, and forced dozens of people to flee their homes.

"We were kind of hoping for a nice easy summer, and spring, and everything, and it's just not coming around," Griffith said.

• Social media shares dramatic images of flood ravaged Northeast B.C.

The Peace River Regional District is now offering sand and sand bags at the following locations:

• MoberlyLake Fire Hall.
• Yips Subdivision onMoberlyLake.
• Dokieat Compass Services.
• IvorJohnson Park inHasler.
• TomslakeFire Hall.
• TupperCommunity Hall.

Officials are also asking residents to stay away from river banks because they may be unstable.