BC Flood

B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, left, and Shackan Indian Band Chief Arnie Lampreau (Swakum) view damage to Shackan land caused by last summer’s wildfires and November’s flooding west of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Chief of B.C. First Nation struck by wildfires, floods says moving may be safest bet

Threat of extreme weather is a constant concern, Shackan leader tells public safety minister

B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, left, and Shackan Indian Band Chief Arnie Lampreau (Swakum) view damage to Shackan land caused by last summer’s wildfires and November’s flooding west of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The provincial ‘flood debris explorer’ is asking the public to pinpoint remaining flood debris in waterways across the Fraser Valley Regional District. (BC Government)

Public asked to pinpoint remaining flood debris across vast Fraser Valley Regional District

Vehicles, sheds and trailers can pose public safety risks if not removed from rivers, creeks

The provincial ‘flood debris explorer’ is asking the public to pinpoint remaining flood debris in waterways across the Fraser Valley Regional District. (BC Government)
The floodwaters that swept over Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, starting on Nov. 14, destroyed Ripples Winery on Tolmie Road along with houses and barns on the property. (Photos by Caroline Mostertman)

Emergency preparedness ministers say a national flood insurance program is needed

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for emergency preparedness are working to…

The floodwaters that swept over Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, starting on Nov. 14, destroyed Ripples Winery on Tolmie Road along with houses and barns on the property. (Photos by Caroline Mostertman)
It needs a lot of work, but Kim and Todd Davidson are delighted to be back home. Photo Andrea DeMeer

A hot plate and $70,000 later, Princeton couple is ‘glamping’ in their flood damaged home

‘It’s my own bathtub, my own toilet. I don’t care if it’s unfinished.’

It needs a lot of work, but Kim and Todd Davidson are delighted to be back home. Photo Andrea DeMeer
Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

No-cost mental health help offer extended for Lower Mainland farmers affected by flooding

Do More Foundation, Telus MyCare extended offer to the end of March

Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
Steve Nicklen, one of the individuals who supports migrant farm workers, repairing bikes at his home in Maple Ridge. (Special to The News)

Volunteers to donate 200 bikes to migrant farm workers impacted by B.C. flooding

Seek help repairing bikes in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Steve Nicklen, one of the individuals who supports migrant farm workers, repairing bikes at his home in Maple Ridge. (Special to The News)
The diking system on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford is among future infrastructure upgrades that are estimated to cost $3 billion, according to the city. Several breaches to the system, which have since been repaired, occurred during the November floods. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)

Abbotsford flood-recovery costs could hit $120M, but future upgrades estimated at $3B

City to consider various funding sources to improve dikes and other infrastructure

The diking system on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford is among future infrastructure upgrades that are estimated to cost $3 billion, according to the city. Several breaches to the system, which have since been repaired, occurred during the November floods. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)
An injection of $500,000 will help microgrants through the United Way to thousands who experienced extreme flooding in Fraser Valley Indigenous communities, as well as farmers and migrant workers. (United Way British Columbia)

Flood-torn communities of Fraser Valley to get $500K through United Way microgrants

Funding from Southern Railway, Washington Companies to aid in recovery, rebuilding

An injection of $500,000 will help microgrants through the United Way to thousands who experienced extreme flooding in Fraser Valley Indigenous communities, as well as farmers and migrant workers. (United Way British Columbia)
Catastrophic flooding hit Sumas Prairie in mid-November. This photo shows the middle median of HIghway 1 near No. 4 Road on Nov. 22, 2021. The westbound lanes are to the rear of the photo. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford seniors fighting $11K+ in border fines issued during Nooksack flood emergency

Lawyer says the border guards were ‘lacking compassion’ in dealing with seniors

Catastrophic flooding hit Sumas Prairie in mid-November. This photo shows the middle median of HIghway 1 near No. 4 Road on Nov. 22, 2021. The westbound lanes are to the rear of the photo. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. can no longer wait to fight climate change after fires, floods, slides: minister

George Heyman says last year delivered the message that the time to address climate change is now.

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Graham Zillwood lost just about everything when flooding swept his property and possessions into the raging Coquihalla River, but he was recently re-united with a leather hat he thought long gone. (Kami Moore Facebook photo)

Hope man who lost everything in flood gets one item back

Graham Zillwood has recovered a leather hat that has been with him since he was a teenager

Graham Zillwood lost just about everything when flooding swept his property and possessions into the raging Coquihalla River, but he was recently re-united with a leather hat he thought long gone. (Kami Moore Facebook photo)
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham speaking at the Feb. 19 provincial press conference.

Some Abbotsford farms already receiving flood recovery funds, others may take up to a year

$228-million Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security announced in early February

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham speaking at the Feb. 19 provincial press conference.
Merritt, B.C., is pictured Thursday, December 9, 2021. Members of a British Columbia First Nation who were evacuated more than 90 days ago when a nearby river changed course during the province’s catastrophic floods are returning home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Members of the Shackan First Nation to return home, more than 90 days after flood

‘Of course, the fire devastation and the greenery around there, it’s all black now’

Merritt, B.C., is pictured Thursday, December 9, 2021. Members of a British Columbia First Nation who were evacuated more than 90 days ago when a nearby river changed course during the province’s catastrophic floods are returning home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)

Merritt’s Bass Coast raises more than $20,000 for flood relief; festival back for 2022

The festival will run from July 8-11

Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)
This photo from Conny Amelunxen, a snow avalanche forecaster and photographer, was taken Nov. 19, 2021, four days after the landslide that destroyed a portion of Highway 99, also called the Duffey Lake Road, and claimed the lives of five people. The landslide, at the right, can be seen leaving the logging road and heading down to Highway 99. (Contributed)

‘Predictable and preventable’: Engineer says abandoned logging road contributed to fatal B.C. landslide

Fingers pointed only at intense storms when resource roads may be at root of many slides in province

This photo from Conny Amelunxen, a snow avalanche forecaster and photographer, was taken Nov. 19, 2021, four days after the landslide that destroyed a portion of Highway 99, also called the Duffey Lake Road, and claimed the lives of five people. The landslide, at the right, can be seen leaving the logging road and heading down to Highway 99. (Contributed)
Transport trucks hauling trailers travel on the Coquihalla Highway after it was reopened to commercial traffic as heavy equipment is used to rebuild the southbound lanes that were washed away by flooding last month at Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on Monday, December 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Study suggests climate change made B.C. floods at least twice as likely

Environment Canada: likelihood of similar events will only increase as global warming continues

Transport trucks hauling trailers travel on the Coquihalla Highway after it was reopened to commercial traffic as heavy equipment is used to rebuild the southbound lanes that were washed away by flooding last month at Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on Monday, December 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Samaritan’s Purse, which sent its disaster relief unit to Abbotsford to help in flood-recovery efforts in November, is among five organizations receiving a total of almost $600,000 on Monday, Feb. 14. (Photo: Samaritan’s Purse)

Abbotsford charity’s online platform raises $600K for flood recovery

Funds being disbursed Feb. 14 by GiveClear Foundation to recipients at Arnold Church

Samaritan’s Purse, which sent its disaster relief unit to Abbotsford to help in flood-recovery efforts in November, is among five organizations receiving a total of almost $600,000 on Monday, Feb. 14. (Photo: Samaritan’s Purse)
FILE – Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

$228M fund coming for B.C. farmers, ranchers impacted by November floods

Those impacted told to keep receipts

FILE – Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
MP Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, surveying flooded Fraser Valley terrain last fall. (Lana Popham/Facebook)

Recovery funding announcement for flooded B.C. farmers ‘days away,’ says ag minister

Reps working ‘around the clock’ so flood-struck farmers, ranchers can get on road to recovery

MP Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, surveying flooded Fraser Valley terrain last fall. (Lana Popham/Facebook)
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Abbotsford City Hall on Nov. 26, 2021 after catastrophic flooding hit the area on Nov. 15. Braun said he is continuing to have discussions with Trudeau, Premier John Horgan and other officials, including in Washington State. (Andy Holota/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford mayor pleads for ‘extensive financial help’ for city following November flooding

Henry Braun reaches out to senior levels of government for help with infrastructure upgrades

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Abbotsford City Hall on Nov. 26, 2021 after catastrophic flooding hit the area on Nov. 15. Braun said he is continuing to have discussions with Trudeau, Premier John Horgan and other officials, including in Washington State. (Andy Holota/Black Press Media)
Pop-up banner image