About 400 properties are under evacuation order and another 1,800 are on evacuation alert due to flooding in the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford and the Okanagan-Similkameen region, officials said.
The City of Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley Regional District have declared a local state of emergency.
British Columbia’s Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said in an update late Thursday morning that emergency support services are being provided to those who have been evacuated.
Greene said geotechnical experts are also assessing the situation on highways and other at-risk areas.
She urged residents under evacuation orders to have a grab-and-go bag ready and to be prepared to leave on short notice.
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said the province is better prepared to deal with flooding events than it was in November 2021, when severe rainfall swamped southern B.C., forcing thousands to evacuate and causing an estimated $285 million in damage.
“We know from 2021 the significant impact that this type of event has on our agricultural community,” said Popham. She said she has talked to many farmers who are worried about how the coming hours and days will play out.
Popham said staff have been working around the clock to support emergency response in the Fraser Valley, including livestock relocation. She said there are 66 farms registered with livestock under evacuation orders, and about 100 others under evacuation alert.
“At this point in time, the animals are safe,” said Popham.
David Campbell, head of the River Forecast Centre, said the atmospheric river hitting B.C. has brought about 90 to 150 mm of rain to the Fraser Valley and surrounding regions since Tuesday.
He said the rainfall rates eased on Thursday, as water levels drop in most smaller and medium-sized rivers.
The Nooksack River in northwestern Washington breached its banks Wednesday afternoon and spilled north into Sumas Prairie.
Campbell said flood warnings remain in place for the Chilliwack River and for rivers in the Sumas region. Levels are expected to remain high throughout Thursday night and into Friday.
“While some areas are improving through the valley, in the Sumas particularly we expect to see the potential for ongoing challenging conditions as we go through the day today,” said Campbell.
He said another atmospheric river is expected to begin Sunday and continue through Monday, though it remains unclear how much additional risk that rainfall could bring.
“At this point, vigilance is important as we go through the coming week,” said Campbell.
Flooding shut down all major major routes between the Interior and the Lower Mainland Wednesday.
Janelle Staite, Deputy Director for the South Coast Region with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation said the province is not seeing near the same level of infrastructure damage as the 2021 flooding event.
Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon reopened fully in both directions early Thursday morning.
There was single-lane alternating traffic on Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope Thursday morning as crews worked to clear rockfall, and Staite said it’s expected to be fully reopened later Thursday evening.
Highway 99 between Mount Currie and Lillooet has been reopened, but drivers on the road are being told to prepare for winter conditions.
Highway 1 in the Sumas prairie remains open in both directions, and Staite said crews have positioned a flood barrier that can be deployed to protect the highway if necessary.
Highway 1 eastbound in the Bridal Falls area remains closed due to a mudslide. The Coquihalla remains closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt. Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton and Highway 11 at Sumas Canada-U.S. border crossing also remained closed.
Residents can check DriveBC for updated road closure status.
The post Evacuations, highway closures as floodwaters rise in southern B.C. appeared first on AM 1150.
