City ravaged by floods Abbotsford, BC, is continuing to repair damaged levees and infrastructure as it prepares for another downpour of rain this weekend.
Mayor Henry Braun said 80% of the repair work on the Sumas dike is now complete and the city hopes to add another 5 feet of elevation before the atmospheric river forecast on Thursday.
“We are using projections to predict water levels and how they will intersect the condition of our levees,” he said at a news conference on Tuesday.
“All the repair and reinforcement work to date has been done to ensure we have the best possible protection if the Nooksack River overflows again and water comes in from Washington state.”
Flooding in BC: Next 10 days could be challenging with another storm coming, minister says
40 to 80 mm of rain is possible in the Fraser Valley – including Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope – from Wednesday night to Friday morning, according to Environment Canada forecast.
The federal department predicts the storm will be less intense, but it could make conditions worse in parts of the province already damaged by the storm. November 14th and 15th floods.
On Tuesday, Braun encouraged residents to prepare for the possibility of a second evacuation by refueling their vehicles and gathering emergency supplies, including food, water and flashlights.
“If you’re looking to protect your property right now, sand and sandbags are available at both Albert Dyck Park and Yarrow Hardware,” he said.
“And as always, check your neighbors – we’ve come a long way and we hope to be in the best position possible with upcoming weather events.”
Mr. Braun said there are four main areas of the city that need to be repaired, but they make up less than 1% of the entire excavation system.
Repairs to the dikes near Barrowtown and Coal Road have been completed, he added, and once the main dike breach is fully repaired, crews will move to the levee upstream of Atkinson Road.
Meanwhile, the city is fortifying the vital Barrowtown pumping station with additional sandbags in anticipation of Thursday’s storm.
It is also continuing to assess the rapid damage to homes and businesses – a key process in the gradual lifting of evacuation orders.
As of Tuesday, the city reported that engineering checks for all 21 of the navigable bridges, 88 kilometers of roads and 357 culverts had been completed.
On Monday, Braun downgraded the evacuation order for Sumas Prairie north of Highway 1 between Sumas Road and Whatcom Road came a warning, allowing some residents to return home.
A new evacuation order was subsequently issued for two properties on Zurich Drive and three other properties on the same street that are currently on evacuation alert.
On Tuesday, the city closed several intersections for sanitary sewer replacement work through November 30, including Chilcotin Drive and Gladwin Road, and Gatefield Avenue and Gladwin Road.
One-lane rotation on Gladwin Road between Gatefield Road and Downes Road will be in effect through the end of the year, according to the advisory.
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https://globalnews.ca/news/8396501/abbotsford-bc-flood-update-nov-23/ Abbotsford, BC strengthens infrastructure, prepares for next atmospheric river