Abbotsford bracing for potential flooding as atmospheric river delivers deluge
The City of Abbotsford is taking steps to help residents protect their homes from another round of flooding as a weather system pushing in off the Pacific Ocean delivers a supersoaker rain event.
The city has provided thousands of pre-filled sandbags for residents, which can be picked up for free at Albert Dyck Park or in the Village of Clayburn.
Rob Pollock was loading up his truck Wednesday morning because he was hoping to shore up defences around his home after several inches of water flooded in during the series of atmospheric rivers that drenched the Fraser Valley in November.
“We just don’t want to take any more chances,” he said. “Our house has been half-remediated. So, we just want to try and prevent any further damage.”
Because his house is on a flood plain, he’s not covered by insurance — and he’s still waiting to see if he qualifies for any disaster assistance money from the province.
In the area around Clayburn Village, residents who were also flooded in November are anxiously watching the water rise.
A creek that spilled its banks then is already lapping at the base of a 100-metre-long wall built by members of the Canadian Armed Forces to protect homes from further damage.
In the southern part of the city, close to the Sumas border crossing, full ditches threaten to overtake roads and have already encroached on private property in places.
In neighbourhoods at higher elevation, deep snow still surrounds many houses and could make its way into basements if it melts quickly during this week’s rain storms.
And along the Trans-Canada Highway, digital signs warn of pooling water and the risk of more flooding in a community still cleaning up from the November storms.
“Certainly, we want to try and be as prepared as we can,” said Pollock as he drove away with his truck full of sandbags.
He and many others will be keeping an eye on the flood forecast for Washington State’s Nooksack River in the coming days.
When it flowed over the border in November, water filled the Sumas Prairie and forced evacuations, killed hundreds of thousands of farm animals, and shut down Highway 1 for more than a week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Dozens of U.S. deaths reveal risks of injecting sedatives into people restrained by police
The practice of giving sedatives to people detained by police has spread quietly across the U.S. over the last 15 years, built on questionable science and backed by police-aligned experts, an investigation led by The Associated Press has found.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.