Flood victims in B.C.'s Sumas Prairie now dealing with looters
As Abbotsford, B.C., lifts more evacuation orders for properties in Sumas Prairie, some residents who are starting to return home are finding not only are their belongings destroyed, but also stolen.
Kelsey Mostertman took CTV News Vancouver on a tour of Ripples Estate Winery on Monday. What was once a rustic chic venue, now looks like a war zone, covered in leftover flood waters and mud.
“With everything we’ve lost, we just can’t stomach anymore at this point,” Mostertman said.
The property is also a well-known barn-themed wedding venue, a palm plant nursery and a distillery.
The Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford experienced some of the most severe and prolonged impact after the first round of B.C.’s atmospheric river last month. Mostertman told CTV News water levels were nearly six-feet high. Many of their items were either destroyed or floated away, including 40 wine barrels.
“We managed to locate about ten of them along Tolmie Rd the other day but as you can see, we are pretty busy dealing with the devastation on our property, we didn’t have time to pick everything up,” said Mostertman.
She was shocked to find all the valuable items they left behind on the side of the road were gone the next morning.
“It’s kind of become a free-for-all for people picking up whatever they can find,” Mostertman said.
Mostertman first made her remarks on social media. Her post has now been shared by almost 400 Facebook users.
She fears as more road barricades are removed, the looting will only increase.
The City of Abbotsford said crews have been clearing debris along flood-stricken roads in Sumas Prairie. However, Mostertman believes the city would not pick up valuable items and leave trash behind.
“We are trying to deal with the devastation on our property and we shouldn’t have to fend off the last of our belongings,” said Mostertman.
When Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun was made aware of the alleged looting, he said it was news to him.
“I have not heard of this,” said Braun. “There are some police barriers that have been stolen, which has been an issue … I will be heading back to the emergency operations centre to let police know this is happening.”
More evacuation orders in Sumas Prairie are expected to be lifted in the coming days. As residents begin to assess the damage and rebuild, the message is clear from residents and officials: if you don’t need to be in the area, please stay away.
“We’ve had enough," added Mostertman. "We just want time to grieve without all of this traffic coming through."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
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.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
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.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.