Four families near Hartland were forced from their homes along the St. John River, fleeing the rising water by boats and cars.

Karl Wilmot, a spokesman with New Brunswick's Emergency Measures Organization, said a total of eight people have had to escape the flooding in western New Brunswick.

"Three of those families had to be evacuated by boat; the fourth family drove out," Wilmot said.

"The reason they were evacuated from their homes was not because the homes were flooded, but because access was cut off to them through the highway."

The Department of Transportation has closed part of Route 105 in Riverbank because ice and water have covered the road.

The families have been moved to Florenceville Middle School for registration, so the province knows who was moved out of the area.

The EMO reports that ice is building up in a handful of other sites on the St. John and Nashwaak rivers, including Perth-Andover, Connors and Durham Bridge.

People who live in flood-prone areas are advised to have emergency plans.