How a B.C. city still partly underwater is preparing for the next round of heavy rain
In an update on the ninth day of flood recovery in Abbotsford, B.C., the city's mayor says crews are actively preparing for the next storm.
Henry Braun said city staff are working with consultants to create "extensive modelling" on water levels ahead of an incoming atmospheric river.
The weather phenomenon expected to hit the area later this week is the same type of storm system that left part of Abbotsford underwater for days, though the approaching system is not expected to be as severe.
"What this means is that we are using projections to anticipate water levels and how they will intersect with the status of our dikes," Braun said.
These dikes were built up in a hurry, with help from the military, following flooding that destroyed homes and farms in the Sumas Prairie and led to the drowning of thousands of animals.
The mayor said all work and repairs have been done to ensure the best results possible, should the river that spilled over its banks last week do so again.
"At this time, all of our dikes have been inspected and damage assessed to the best of our ability, as some sections are not visible. There were four main areas that needed repair, and these make up less than one per cent of the entire diking system," he said.
Braun said the repairs were 80 per cent complete as of Tuesday, and that "another five feet of height" would be added before the rain picks up on Thursday.
Once the main breach is repaired, crews will be moved to another area that has partially eroded.
Another concern during the flooding last week was that the Barrowtown Pump Station might be overwhelmed. The station is a "critical piece of infrastructure," the city says, in preventing the flooding of the Sumas Prairie.
The area is located at the site of what was once Sumas Lake. The lake was drained to accommodate farms and homes.
This time around, sandbags are being brought in early to "help fortify" the pump station, the mayor said.
Culverts are being cleared across the city, including in the Sumas Prairie, to help excess water drain away from the area.
Braun spoke the day after part of an evacuation order was downgraded to an alert thanks to receding water levels. The city warned those north of Highway 1 who were allowed to go home still need to be ready to leave again, if the situation changes.
Residents who returned found colour-coded tags on their front doors: green for enter with caution, yellow for restricted access, and red for authorized access only. These placards were stuck on the doors of home and businesses following quick structural assessments, and any property considered unsafe is still not open to owners or tenants, regardless of status of their evacuation order.
The City of Abbotsford has opened a call centre to help residents with questions about their next steps.
General inquiries can be made at 604-864-5688, while those seeking building assessments should call 604-504-4049.
Cleanup kits have been made available at the city's Tradex Convention Centre.
This is a breaking news update. More info to come.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Regan Hasegawa in Abbotsford
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Oilers to play Game 1 vs. Canucks on Wednesday
The Edmonton Oilers will play Game 1 of their second-round series against the Canucks in Vancouver on Wednesday.