Storm closes all highways between B.C.’s Lower Mainland and Interior, as flooding triggers evacuations

The Fraser Valley Regional District declared a local state of emergency, and has issued evacuation orders and alerts due to flood risk.

All highways between B.C.’s Lower Mainland and Interior have been closed due to an atmospheric river that’s also triggered evacuations and a travel advisory within the Fraser Valley.

In a Wednesday night update, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Greene warned the conditions are “changing rapidly,” and urged residents living near waterways or in low-lying areas to follow updates closely.

“Take steps to prepare for potential impacts,” Greene said. “That means assembling a grab-and-go bag for each member of your household, including pets, with the essentials you would need if you were forced to evacuated.”

Officials will be monitoring the situation throughout the night, including the impacts of waters rushing into the province from Washington state, where the Nooksack River topped its banks in the afternoon.

The government is prepared to issue “broadcast-intrusive” alerts to support further evacuations as needed, Greene said.

“I know this will be a sleepless night for many people,” she added. “We will get through this together.”

Highway closures

Stretches of Highway 1, Highway 7 and Highway 99 were all closed Wednesday night, as the intense storm swelled rivers and softened soils across the region.

Flooding shut down Highway 1 in both directions east of Bridal Falls and Highway 99 east of Pemberton, while Highway 7 was closed east of Agassiz due to a rockslide.

The Coquihalla Highway was also cut off between Hope and Merritt because of “flooding at Sowaqua,” according to DriveBC.

“Access between the Lower Mainland and the Interior is closed at this time,” Greene said. “Other highways and roadways may be closed as required.”

Travel advisory

The Ministry of Transportation and Transit issued a travel advisory Wednesday night, urging the public to avoid travel in the areas at risk of flooding.

“All travellers should be aware that conditions can change rapidly, with limited visibility due to high-intensity rainfall, pooling water, localized flooding and the potential for rising river levels to contribute to flooding in areas of the Fraser Valley, which could further impact road conditions,” the ministry said.

Greene suggested everyone in the Fraser Valley should stay home if possible.

“We need people to stay off the roads for safety and to ensure roads are clear for people who need to evacuate,” she said.

The B.C. government will continue co-ordinating with local officials, First Nations and counterparts in Washington to “ensure everyone has what they need to keep people safe,” Greene added.

Evacuations ordered

The Fraser Valley Regional District declared a state of local emergency and ordered occupants of eight properties in the Chilliwack River Valley to flee, placing an additional 12 on evacuation alert Wednesday afternoon.

A flood warning—the highest alert issued by B.C.’s River Forecast Centre—is in effect for the eastern part of the Fraser Valley.

At an earlier briefing, Greene said the Chilliwack and Sumas rivers have been identified as key sites of concern “with the primary risk being water coming into those systems from the Nooksack River in the United States.”

“We are in a very dynamic situation,” she added.

Connie Chapman, B.C.’s executive director of water management, said with rainfalls easing into Wednesday night, Nooksack River flows were expected to peak around 10 p.m., and hold there until between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.

In the meantime, those flows are “making their way through the U.S. towards the border and then down into the Sumas Prairie,” Chapman said.

Officials expect the Nooksack to return to its banks by 10 a.m. Thursday.

Déjà vu for some residents

Greene acknowledged the anxiety people impacted by the flood warning are likely feeling given the flood-related destruction and disaster suffered in the region in November 2021.

“These communities have been here before and are still recovering,” she said.

“While we don’t know yet exactly what today and the days ahead will bring, the province is preparing for all eventualities.”

On Wednesday afternoon, the City of Abbotsford issued an evacuation alert for Sumas Prairie West and Clayburn Village.

“The most potentially impacted properties will receive hand-delivered notices from Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service, Abbotsford Police Department and others,” the alert from the city said.

Read more: Abbotsford issues evacuation alerts for Sumas Prairie, Clayburn Village amid flood warning

At 5 p.m., the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen issued an evacuation alert for the community of Eastgate, which is near Manning Park and has few year-round residents.