BC Flood

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Cars, couches, propane and fuel tanks among debris from record B.C. flooding

‘Mountains’ of trash left outside homes after record rainfall

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Engineers say better forecasting, warnings could protect B.C. from disasters

Experts worried about how weakened infrastructure will handle spring thaws

Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)

Agassiz fire chief recounts dangerous week of flood rescues

No local firefighters were injured during dangerous rescue operations

Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)
Aerial view of aftermath of flooding near Princeton B.C., Dec. 3, 2021. Farms in the Similkameen, Nicola and eastern Fraser Valley were heavily damaged by flooding in mid-November. (B.C. government photo)

Aid coming for flood-struck B.C. livestock, vegetable farmers

Berry, vegetable fields to be assessed, $1M for emergency feed

Aerial view of aftermath of flooding near Princeton B.C., Dec. 3, 2021. Farms in the Similkameen, Nicola and eastern Fraser Valley were heavily damaged by flooding in mid-November. (B.C. government photo)
Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)

B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway to reopen Dec. 20 for essential traffic

Temporary access while major reconstruction is completed

Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)
Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)

B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway to reopen Dec. 20 for essential traffic

Temporary access while major reconstruction is completed

Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)
B.C. finance minister Selina Robinson leaves the assembly with Premier John Horgan after the budget speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the federal government's $5 billion contribution to flood disaster recovery efforts in British Columbia is a historic amount of cash that reflects the extreme nature of the disaster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. welcomes federal government’s ‘initial’ $5 billion in flood disaster relief

B.C. Finance Minister says assessing the full cost of rebuilding remains an ongoing process

B.C. finance minister Selina Robinson leaves the assembly with Premier John Horgan after the budget speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the federal government's $5 billion contribution to flood disaster recovery efforts in British Columbia is a historic amount of cash that reflects the extreme nature of the disaster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.

Ninja the cat survives Abbotsford flooding, travels almost 20 km to former home

Pet got away from owner during evacuation from Sumas Prarie home on Nov. 15

Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.
FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

VIDEO: B.C. to lift gas restrictions in southwest region, extends state of emergency

Gas restriction were first put in place in mid-November

FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Volunteers join forces to help clean up after unprecedented flooding in Abbotsford

Flood damage across B.C. is expected to cost $450 million

Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Nov. 30. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

B.C.’s flooding was ‘most costly’ severe weather event ever for province: insurance experts

Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates $450 million in insured damage from recent flooding

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Nov. 30. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Ministry of Transportation staff survey the damage at the last remaining northbound strand of Bottletop Bridge. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)

VIDEO: Crews working around the clock to repair storm-ravaged Coquihalla

Ministry of Transportation says they’re confident the highway will reopen in January

Ministry of Transportation staff survey the damage at the last remaining northbound strand of Bottletop Bridge. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)
Crews work to repair the Coquihalla at Kingsvale Bridge, about 38 km south of Merritt, on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Coquihalla work going better than expected, B.C. minister says

Highway could reopen to essential traffic in early January

Crews work to repair the Coquihalla at Kingsvale Bridge, about 38 km south of Merritt, on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Properties on Hatzic Lake are surrounded by high water after floodwaters began to recede, near Mission, B.C., on Sunday, December 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. safety agency issues worker hazard warnings for flooding cleanup

Risks may include asbestos and chemical or biological contamination, among others

Properties on Hatzic Lake are surrounded by high water after floodwaters began to recede, near Mission, B.C., on Sunday, December 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A collapsed section of bridge destroyed by severe flooding is seen in Merritt, B.C., in an aerial view from a Canadian Forces reconnaissance flight on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nearly 300 still in the dark in flood-ravaged Merritt area as BC Hydro works to restore power

City was evacuated on Nov. 15 when heavy rains led to river overflowing

A collapsed section of bridge destroyed by severe flooding is seen in Merritt, B.C., in an aerial view from a Canadian Forces reconnaissance flight on Monday, November 22, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The view of Cultus Lake from Sunnyside Campground a few days after the flooding. (Facebook/Betty Ann Kickbush Bedard)

Crisis Cleanup volunteers ready to roll into flood-damaged areas across the Lower Mainland

Cleanup volunteers can cut fallen trees, remove drywall, tarp roofs, help with mould mitigation

The view of Cultus Lake from Sunnyside Campground a few days after the flooding. (Facebook/Betty Ann Kickbush Bedard)
Members of the Canadian Forces build a temporary dike with sandbags behind houses on Clayburn Creek in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. flood recovery moves to cleanup of damaged materials

Some Canadian Forces soldiers begin transferring out

Members of the Canadian Forces build a temporary dike with sandbags behind houses on Clayburn Creek in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Crews build an erosion control embankment along Hwy. 3 on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

B.C.’s storm recovery ‘trending in the right direction,’ but gas rationing to remain

Province is entering recovery efforts as storms subside

Crews build an erosion control embankment along Hwy. 3 on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
A property in Sumas Prairie as seen from Highway 1 on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

Risk of drinking-water contamination from manure increased in flooded areas, says province

Owners advised to assess private wells, take action to protect anyone drinking the water

A property in Sumas Prairie as seen from Highway 1 on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham meets with farmers in the flood-damaged Sumas Prairie in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 23, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Federal agriculture minister to tour Fraser Valley flood zone

B.C. minister says Ottawa program can fill disaster gaps

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham meets with farmers in the flood-damaged Sumas Prairie in the Fraser Valley, Nov. 23, 2021. (B.C. government photo)