Rising waters creep closer to a home near Fredericton. (Submitted by Carol Wakeham)

Residents living along the St. John River on the outskirts of Fredericton are being told to decide whether they are going to stay in their homes or evacuate.

"They now need to make the decision whether to stay put or relocate," Cindy Abbot, an official at the Oromocto flood command centre, told CBC News Monday afternoon.

The window of opportunity for residents living in the Maugerville and Jemseg are is narrowing, Abbot said.

"We believe they have … the rest of today, tomorrow and tomorrow evening. By Wednesday we expect there to be really big changes in the river and in the flood levels," Abbot said.

The flooded St. John River continues to cover public walking trails in the capital city. (Submitted by Carol Wakeham)

Environment Canada predictions were suggesting Monday afternoon that parts of New Brunswick may receive between 75 and 100 millimetres of rain by Wednesday, said Andy Morton, deputy director of the province's Emergency Measures Organization.

"[It's] enough rain that we could see a return to 2005 water levels," Morton said. "So we're asking folks to get ready for that type of event right now."

In 2005, river levels in the Fredericton area reached 7.8 metres. About 500 homes were flooded and several families had to evacuate.

The river is now expected to exceed its 2005 flood levels in the Fredericton area by Wednesday.

"The water level has gone up a few inches today but what we're anticipating is a large water event," said Oromocto fire Chief Jody Price.

Despite floodwaters rising at their home, Barb Jamieson and her husband, Carl, told CBC News they aren't going anywhere.

'We're quite safe here'

"We have cats … and we just like to stay home," Jamieson said. "We've moved our horse and our hay and important things we've moved to the high land. So, we're quite safe here, I think."

Jamieson said they waited out the floods in 2005 while the flood water rose to the third step leading up to their house and they had a boat tied outside for getting around.

People who decide to stay that their residences should be prepared to be self-sufficient for about a week, Morton said.

"Have food and water and medications and anything that you need on hand," he said. "If you're thinking about evacuating, make your plans and be prepared to go."

The floodwaters may curtail services that are currently being provided to the flooded areas and cause more roadblocks and closures, Morton said.

Roads closed

Sections of Route 105 outside Fredericton are flooded and remain closed. Tripp Settlement Road, Rusagonis Road, Elms Road and Route 690 near Lakeville Corner are also closed because of flooding. The Gagetown ferry has stopped running because of the high waters.

More than 100 people have already registered their information with the Red Cross so their whereabouts will be known if they need to evacuate their homes, said Kerry Appleton, a spokeswoman for organization. About a third of the people who have registered with the Red Cross have already left the area, Appleton said.

The Red Cross is operating a registration centre at the flood command post in Burton and will reopen a second centre at the University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus on Monday afternoon.

The river reached its flood stage of 6.5 metres in Fredericton last Tuesday. It is currently at 7.1 metres.

Emergency Measures is forecasting the following water levels:

• In Fredericton, the water level is expected to exceed 7.8 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 6.5.
• In Maugerville, the water level is expected to increase to 6.4 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 6.0.
• In Jemseg, the water level is expected to reach 5.3 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 4.3.
• In Grand Lake, the water level is expected to increase to 5.2 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 5.0.
• In Sheffield-Lakeville Corner, the water level is expected to reach 5.3 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 4.8.
• In Oak Point, the water level is expected to reach 4.4 metres by Tuesday and remain at that level into Wednesday. Flood stage is 4.7
• In Quispamsis and Saint John, the water level is expected to be 4.2 metres by Wednesday. Flood stage is 4.2.