Floodwaters are beginning to recede in parts of Abbotsford, British Columbia, but officials warn the risk is far from over as more rain is forecast for the already saturated Fraser Valley.
Abbotsford city officials said Saturday that some areas were seeing “significant improvement” even as water continued to flow north from the Nooksack River in Washington state, which first burst its banks earlier this week.
Side roads remain flooded and the Trans-Canada Highway remains closed, cutting off the fastest route between Metro Vancouver and the rest of Canada.
“There is currently no access to eastern British Columbia through Abbotsford and Chilliwack,” the city said in a statement, adding that online maps show inaccurate road closure information.
EmergencyInfoBC confirmed Saturday afternoon that Highway 1 remains closed and warned drivers not to attempt to drive around the barricades on side roads, many of which are also under water.
“Traveling through flooded areas poses a risk to life safety,” the department said.
Other major highways were closed earlier this week due to severe flooding, and some have since reopened.
Residents are urged to remain cautious amid the deadly collisions, crashes and accidents that have occurred during this atmospheric river flooding.
Abbotsford police said a person was killed when their vehicle overturned into a water-filled ditch on Huntingdon Road late Saturday night.
The lone occupant was evacuated by Abbotsford Fire and Rescue but died at the scene.
Huntingdon Road between Lefebvre and Bradner roads remained closed while investigators worked to determine the cause.
At the moment, the flood has led to mass evacuations throughout the region.
British Columbia Emergency Management Minister Kelly Green said about 450 properties have been evacuated across the province, most of them in Abbotsford, and about 1,700 more properties are on evacuation alert.
For longtime residents, the scenes brought back painful memories of the catastrophic floods of 2021.
Cindy Brown, who lives in the Delaire Park neighborhood of Abbotsford, said she was shocked to see floodwaters covering Highway 1 when she returned home Thursday night.
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“We said, 'Oh brother, not again,'” Brown said in an interview. “The cars were still passing and we watched until it was clear they couldn't get through… and overnight it still rose. I don't know how long it will take to retreat.”
Brown, a lifelong Fraser Valley resident, said the 2021 flooding was the worst she had ever seen, although she noted this week's event was not as severe.
Environment and climate change Canada is forecasting more rain on Sunday, with a “potentially significant increase in humidity” on Monday and early next week.
The agency also warns of an increased risk of landslides as precipitation destabilizes slopes.
Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popov said crews are keeping a close eye on vulnerable areas, especially since memories of past landslides are still fresh.
“Our land is so oversaturated now, and four years ago we had a lot of landslides,” Popove said.
“Our crews are checking areas where this may have happened and the stability of the area.”
Popov said evacuation notices were issued in Marble Hill due to the risk of mudslides, as well as evacuation warnings for a small area near Patterson Road.
“It's just a warning because there's a creek running right next to them and you just have to be prepared to pack your bag and get out of Dodge,” he said. “But other than that, we’re fine here.”
“The water needs somewhere to go”
Experts say the flooding is part of a wider problem caused by climate change.
“All the research shows that flooding in this region will become more frequent,” said Tara Martin, a professor of environmental science at the University of British Columbia.
“The reason flooding is going to get worse and more frequent is because of climate change.”
Martin said the Sumas Prairie is especially vulnerable because increased precipitation and more frequent atmospheric rivers push water into the rivers faster than when precipitation fell as snow.
“It's a really difficult question,” she said. “The water has to go somewhere.”
“And with climate change, the water has nowhere else to go but back to the bottom of the lake,” she added.
Martin said governments should start considering planned relocation of people from high-risk flood zones, noting that buying out vulnerable properties could cost just under $1 billion, compared with more than $2 billion for new levees and pumping infrastructure that may still not be working.
The floods have not only affected residents, but also business owners across the province.
Casey Prum, chair of the BC Dairy Council, said water levels on the affected farms have stabilized, but cleanup will take time.
“Obviously there is still a lot of water in the area and there will be a lot of cleanup work to do once the water recedes,” Prum said.
He said producers are disappointed that little has changed since 2021.
“It's hard for them to move forward when they don't see any improvements in the physical infrastructure that could support them or protect them from another situation like this,” Prum said.
Despite the flooding, Prum said most animals remained safe and milk collection continued through coordination with local authorities and emergency officials.
The BC River Forecasting Center issued a high flow advisory for all coastal areas of the province, prompting officials to urge residents to stay away from fast-moving rivers, unstable banks and flooded roads.
The public is also asked to keep up to date with the latest updates before traveling as conditions can change quickly.
— with files from The Canadian Press
