TORONTO / OTTAWA – Volunteer boaters helping to retrieve supplies from flood-ravaged areas of British Columbia are being told to slow down, as their waves are affecting local farms.
BC Agriculture Minister Lana Popham told reporters on Monday that volunteers needed to be careful when traveling through these areas.
“We really appreciate your help but if you can keep the boat down to speed,” she said.
Popham added that some power transformers have stopped working and that larger waves could hurt farms that still have electricity.
REOPENS MAIN Expressway
A major route out of southern British Columbia has reopened after a brief closure.
Highway 3 – also known as the Crowsnest Expressway – between the British Columbia communities of Hope and Princeton was closed in both directions Monday afternoon, before reopening to traffic.
In a statement, the BC Department of Transport and Infrastructure said the highway was closed because “cracks in the pavement were observed”, but it was later deemed safe.
The highway has just reopened after the first flood in the area.
TERMS, NDP EMERGENCY CALL
The Conservatives and the NDP have called for an urgent debate in the House of Commons to address the government’s plans to combat the flooding.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said: “As this type of extreme weather is more common, we need to see investments from the federal government, real proactive investments to make communities resilient. better prepared for what is now becoming more common,” said NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
BC Conservative MPs Ed Fast and Dan Albas also called for an urgent debate on rebuilding BC
They said in a joint statement: “The return of Congress allows the people of British Columbia to see the House of Representatives arrested for this crisis and work together on the path forward, and this will be particularly important.” important when damage is assessed and rebuilding begins,” they said in a joint statement.
ABBOTSFORD MAYOR WARNING ‘LONG WAY’ FROM SAFETY
Mayor Henry Braun of Abbotsford, BC said on Monday that some evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes but remain on alert, meaning they may need to flee immediately.
“We are still far from out of danger,” Braun told reporters.
However, Braun added that the flood hoses at the Barrowtown Pumping Station are still working and the water is being pumped from the Sumas Pasture.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II SENDS A MESSAGE TO BC
Queen Elizabeth II has issued a statement supporting British Columbians’ response to the flood disaster.
“My thoughts are with the people of British Columbia as you continue to face the recent catastrophic flooding and gradually begin the process of recovery and rebuilding,” the statement was released through Governor-General Mary. May Simon.
“I am grateful for the tireless work of the many first responders and volunteers who continue to provide comfort and support to their fellow Canadians during this difficult time.”
MUDSLIDE VICTIMS OUT OF LUCK WHEN INQUIRED FOR INSURANCE
A family in Harrison Lake, BC whose home was damaged after a landslide destroyed the property was disappointed to learn their insurance would not cover repairs and cleanup.
Mervyn Thomas told CTV News Vancouver that their insurance would cover damage to the family’s two cars and boat, but not damage to their home.
British Columbia Insurance Corporation encouraged the Thomas family to take advantage of government assistance programs to cover the cost of damage to their home.
SECOND STORM APPEARANCE
BC is bracing for a second storm as the province continues to recover from last week’s heavy rain, which brought flooding and landslides.
As of Monday morning, six BC communities are under snow warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada, including the Fraser Valley, which saw thousands of residents evacuated last week. . The Coquihalla highway, which has been partially destroyed by mudslides, is expected to see 25 to 30 centimeters of snow between Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
Three communities in the province are also under wind warnings. Wind gusts of up to 110 km/h are expected in the Central Coast, Haida Gwaii and coastal areas of the North Coast.
Environment and Climate Change Canada is also warning of possible freezing rain, localized flooding and landslides in inland areas of the North Coast. The area is under warnings for precipitation, wind and winter storms, with up to 90 mm of rain possible. In the North Coast town of Stewart, BC, near the Alaska border, snow is expected to melt as temperatures rise on Monday, which could overwhelm or block drainage systems.
Officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada are expected to update Monday afternoon.
ABBOTSFORD DIKE SEALED
The City of Abbotsford announced on Sunday that a hole in the Sumas River dike has been sealed off and floodgates have been opened.
The closure of the dike and the opening of floodgates means that water no longer flows from the Sumas River into the former Sumas Lake bed, which was artificially drained in the 1920s to make way for arable land. Instead, the Sumas are flowing directly into the Fraser River, as intended, and the pumping station is pumping water out of the old lake and into the Fraser.
The city remains in a state of emergency through Nov. 29. Abbotsford officials are also expected to provide flood updates Monday afternoon.
HELP OF THE FED
The federal government announced on Sunday that applications for employment insurance will be expedited for those who have lost their jobs or been displaced by the floods in BC.
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said affected residents should immediately apply for employment insurance benefits – even if they are not normally eligible.
Amid shortages at gas stations and grocery stores, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said British Columbians living near the border could travel to the US to buy essential supplies and return home. without requiring a COVID-19 test for re-entry.
The Confederacy also sent 500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces to help with the sandbag efforts. Defense Minister Anita Anand said thousands more were ready to act if needed.
HOTEL REFUND Pending EVENT
While the BC government has promised to reimburse those forced to leave their homes, evacuees say they are still waiting.
“For those who have been waiting, we will reimburse those who qualify. That reimbursement process is underway now,” Deputy Prime Minister Mike Farnworth said at a meeting. newspaper on Saturday.
The province has not provided an estimate of the number of British Columbians affected by the flooding pending reimbursements.
The entire town of Merritt – which has more than 7,000 residents – is forced to flee to hotels and motels in Kelowna or Kamloops, unless they have friends or family elsewhere who can take shelter.
.
