Fraser Valley states of emergency as evacuations ordered, schools closed

Streets turned into rivers in Abbotsford B.C. on Monday, as the city declared a local state of emergency. Kier Junos speaks with one homeowner who was getting ready to leave her flooded home.

By Denise Wong and Nikitha Martins and Claire Fenton

Posted November 15, 2021 11:34 am.

Last Updated November 16, 2021 7:38 am.

Severe flooding has prompted cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack to declare local states of emergency, ordering evacuations for some properties, and shuttering schools.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun made the declaration Monday morning, which allows for enhanced support for people dealing with mudslides and flooding. Chilliwack followed suit soon after.

Schools in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Hope are closed on Tuesday as a result of the flood situation.

New evacuation orders were also issued for Abbotsford residents in the Sumas Prairie area early Tuesday.

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The local state of emergency is expected to remain in effect for seven days.

Evacuation orders and alerts

In Abbotsford, an evacuation order has been issued for a people living in people living at 35259 Straiton Road. For some people living in the Sumas Prairie, an evacuation alert has been upgraded to an order for Sumas Mountain and Yale Road to the North, The United States Border to the South, The Sumas River Dyck to the East, Sumas Way to the West Straiton Area.

There are evacuation alerts in place for homes in the Clayburn, Eagle Mountain, Ten Oaks, Sumas Prairie, Straiton, and Matsqui Village areas.

An Emergency Support Services (ESS) Centre has been set up at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre at 2499 McMillan Road for evacuees.

Another reception centre has been set up at Chilliwack Senior Secondary east of the city for residents who have been told to leave Tuesday morning from the Sumas Prairie area.

That order applies to the area bordered by the Sumas Mountain, the U.S. border, the city of Chilliwack, and the Ridge West of Railway Road to the west.

In the centre, visitors can talk to Emergency Services, warm up, and talk to a representative about their accommodation needs.

“If you are unable to return home or have been evacuated from your home you can go to the Abbotsford Recreation Centre for assistance and shelter,” reads a statement from the City of Abbotsford.

Seven Chilliwack properties on Yale Road and Chartwell Drive are under an evacuation order.

Evacuees should register at the Chilliwack Emergency Support Services reception centre at 46363 Yale Road.

Othello Road area in Hope is under evacuation orders Tuesday.

Electoral Area B residents will not be able to return home until a flood risk assessment can be completed on an exposed pipeline beside the Coquihalla Highway near the exit.

School closures 

Schools in Abbotsford will remain closed Tuesday

“This decision has been made in consultation with the city’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and closures are being implemented due to the city’s current state of local emergency,” says a statement from the school board.

“This is an actively evolving situation, and we will be monitoring events. No decision has been made for the remaining days of instruction this week.”

In Chilliwack, the district announced schools would not be in session Tuesday.

The Fraser Cascade School District, which includes Hope, has also closed schools Tuesday.

The University of the Fraser Valley also updated its closure Tuesday morning to announce schools will not be in session and exams will be rescheduled.

 

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