Abbotsford mayor 'extremely concerned' about potential for flooding from U.S. this weekend
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun says his city remains "extremely concerned" about the possibility of floodwaters from the United States arriving this weekend.
During a news conference Saturday afternoon, Braun said he spoke with officials in Whatcom County, Wash. Saturday morning to discuss flooding from the Nooksack River.
He said the U.S. officials told him it's "challenging" to predict how severe the flooding from the river will be during the current storm because of infrastructure damage and sediment buildup.
Braun said he's confident Abbotsford's dike and pump infrastructure can handle the 120 millimetres of rain that are forecast to fall on the city by Sunday morning. He's less certain how the city will fare if the Nooksack floods - and how severe the Nooksack flooding might be.
"We have done everything we can in a very short period of time," Braun said.
Washington officials have warned that the Nooksack is expected to overflow its banks and flood the town of Everson this weekend.
Floodwaters may also make their way to the U.S. city of Sumas, which would then mean more flooding north of the border in Abbotsford's Sumas Prairie.
Much of the prairie has been underwater for nearly two weeks, since a devastating storm sent floodwater from the Nooksack north earlier this month.
On Saturday, Canadian Forces soldiers stacked sandbags along a rail line in Abbotsford near the U.S. border in preparation for the potential flood.
Braun began his remarks with some good news, saying the situation on Sumas Prairie had remained stable, with the Barrowtown Pump Station - which drains the former Sumas Lake into the Fraser River - operating at full capacity.
"Last night we saw floodwater levels drop in the Sumas Prairie lake bottom by nine inches in 24 hours," the mayor said. "That may not be the case for today into tomorrow."
He warned residents of Abbotsford's Huntingdon village - who are on evacuation alert - that they may be in the path of floodwaters from the Nooksack.
"Prior to an evacuation order being issued, we will be doing our very best to provide residents with as much advance notice as possible," Braun said. "However, residents still need to be prepared to leave immediately as we may only receive limited notice due to changing conditions."
The mayor said residents of the Huntingdon area could go to Huntingdon Park to pick up sandbagging supplies for their homes. Such supplies are also available for residents of other parts of the city at Albert Dyck Park, Braun said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.