Abbotsford state of emergency extended as community braces for third atmospheric river
A local state of emergency has been extended for another week in Abbotsford, as the community braces for a third atmospheric river system to hit the region.
“We are now through the second of the three weather events that have been forecast to impact our community,” Abbotsford’s mayor Henry Braun said during a news conference Monday.
“Although the Nooksack River overflowed (Sunday), we did not see any water cross over from Washington State in the eastern portion of the Sumas Prairie,” he added. “It’s good news as that remains the most critically impacted area.”
Much of the region has been underwater for more than two weeks now, and with more bad weather on the way, residents are bracing for even more damage.
But despite heavy rain Monday morning, Abbotsford’s mayor says he’s feeling a lot more optimistic about the situation.
That’s because the water that spilled over from the Nooksack is taking much longer to arrive than he expected.
“The bulk of the water that's coming took 19 hours to get here," Mayor Henry Braun said. "So that's actually good news because we were being told to expect it within four or five hours. So what that tells me is there's less volume that came over the Nooksack that is very good for us."
In Monday’s update, Braun said he remains confident that the city has done all that can be done to keep the community safe.
“I’m hopeful that we will make it through the final weather event forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday this week with only minimal impacts,” he said.
“I am pleased to share at this point we are holding our own.”
Braun added that water levels in the flooded portion of the Sumas Prairie remain stable and that he’s confident the dikes will hold.
Aerial footage Monday showed many parts of the Sumas Prairie still under water, in some spots as deep as eight feet.
The heavy rain from the weekend’s atmospheric river caused it to rise about three inches.
The Nooksack continues to pour across the border, and the flowing water could be seen streaming across Vye Road.
In the meantime, on the U.S. side, sirens blared Monday morning to warn people of rising waters.
Crews, with the help of the military, worked all night Sunday to install tiger dams on Highway 1 in the Sumas flats to stop the flow of water.
That stretch between Abbotsford and Chilliwack is closed indefinitely.
Near Sumas Mountain, a mudslide prompted new evacuation orders on Whatcom Road and alerts on Sandringham Drive.
Off the prairie, Clayburn Creek continues to swell from this weekend’s heavy rain.
Residents in Huntingdon Village were also forced out over the weekend.
A wall of sandbags has been built, but hundreds of homes and farms are still exposed.
In total, officials estimate about 1,300 people have been evacuated.
“We're all in this together. We all have different roles to play where there's a bunch of support from our community, we're seeing the different charity organizations coming in play," said Const. Paul Walker, of the Abbotsford Police Department.
"And we'll help people through this process. So my message is hang in there. We're going to get through it."
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the Fraser Valley with another atmospheric river expected to bring up to 100 millimetres of rain through Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Auston Matthews returns for Game 7, but Leafs minus injured goaltender Joseph Woll
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews returned to the lineup for Game 7 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.