B.C. communities warned to prepare for more flooding, closed highways as storms return - The Globe and Mail

Dozens of communities across British Columbia’s south coast are on flood watch as the province prepares for another storm system that will bring heavy rains to communities still recovering from devastating floods and deadly landslides and highway washouts less than two weeks ago.

The River Forecast Centre issued the flood watch advisory on Saturday morning, warning that river levels are rising and “will approach or may exceed” their banks, creating flood risks across an area that stretches from the west coast of Vancouver Island to Abbotsford, where the Canadian Armed Forces are already deployed to help repair the levee that breached following a historic rainfall earlier this month.

On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C.

Trudeau, who visited the hard-hit Vancouver suburb of Abbotsford on Friday before flying to meet Mr.

Trudeau said Ottawa will support B.C.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is shown maps by Abbottsford Mayor Henry Braun during a visit to the city after rainstorms triggered landslides and floods that caused massive damage to the city.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters.

Trudeau landed in Abbotsford early Friday afternoon and met with the agricultural community’s Mayor and several provincial cabinet members.

Trudeau toured the flooded area of Abbotsford to witness the destruction that has affected the livelihood of farmers.

Rob Fleming, British Columbia’s transportation minister, said at a flood briefing in Victoria on Friday morning that crews are working “non-stop” to repair an estimated 200 highway sites that were damaged or destroyed last week by washouts in the province’s Interior and south coast, where some smaller communities are still having fuel, food and other essential goods airdropped.

Fleming said the Nooksack River in Washington State could overflow again and send more floods across the border.

13-14 rainstorm, the river flooded the Sumas Prairie area of Abbotsford, where thousands of livestock have died and farms were inundated.

Early Saturday morning, a flood alert was issued for communities in Washington State along the Nooksack River.

“At this point, the Nooksack River is projected to reach moderate flood stage on Sunday, Nov.

There is much uncertainty as a result of last week’s flood flows.” The statement said the forecast pointed to flooding of the Nooksack in Everson, a town 40 km south of the border at Abbotsford, by Sunday morning.

Highway 1 in Abbotsford remains surrounded by flood water on Tuesday.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press.

Rob Feenstra and Brendan van Biert walk through flood water after conducting a hazard assessment at a local bio gas plant in Abbottsford.JENNIFER GAUTHIER/Reuters.