Chatham-Kent officials are urging residents to take precautions after a flood warning was issued for the municipality.
Mayor Darrin Canniff, accompanied by representatives of the police and fire departments, held a media conference Thursday afternoon after the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) issued the warning earlier in the day.
Canniff stressed to residents that the water continues to rise so they need to stay away from the river and keep their kids and pets away as well. He added there is no telling how bad the flooding will get.
"As we look outside it is raining and that's the biggest variable. How much rain are we going to get and how fast are we going to get it?" Canniff said. "Those two things create the variable and that's what we are planning for."
The mayor added the water should reach its peak by Friday afternoon. He said there is no word on damage yet but the municipality should have a better idea by Friday night.
Siskind Court was closed due to flooding late Thursday afternoon.
According to Chatham-Kent police Constable Renee Cowell, the police have all hands on deck to try and keep everyone safe.
"Barricades have been strategically set up along the Thames River here in Chatham," Cowell said. "We are asking motorists to obey those barricades. Do not drive around them as they have been put there for your safety."
Bob Crawford with the Chatham-Kent fire department said 2018's flood, which prompted a state of emergency, helped prepare them and he's confident they can minimize any damage.
"We are actually restaging a lot of measures we put in place a year ago on the same river," Crawford said. "We are on top of our game and we have firefighters on five teams staged and ready to go in the event we are called upon to help people get to safety."
The high level of water in Chatham is being caused by an ice jam at the Prairie Siding Bridge by Jacob Road.
