Highway 1 closed, evacuation orders in effect in Abbotsford due to flooding

The Sumas River has breached its banks forcing Highway 1 to be closed and more than 1,000 people in Abbotsford to leave their homes.

The evacuation alert for the Sumas Prairie increased in severity to an order Tuesday around 6 a.m., and Abbotsford first responders have been going door to door to tell people to get out immediately.

The order applies to the entire Sumas Prairie area – from Sumas out to the Chilliwack border and from Highway 1 south and a portion of Highway 1 north.

Read more: Abbotsford state of emergency and flood situation

The community has declared a state of emergency and schools are closed Tuesday.

This is Highway 1 at Whatcom right now. Completely flooded, please be patient with our @AbbyPoliceDept members who are out there keeping you safe. I heard several people yelling at our officers blocking road. Be patient. Very proud of all #FirstResponders & @CFVSAR #ProudChief pic.twitter.com/H2RxxxY0OO

— Mike Serr (@MikeSerr477) November 16, 2021

Residents who are forced out are told to travel east to a reception centre that has been set up for them at Chilliwack Senior Secondary School.

Travel is blocked westbound and no evacuees can get through that way, Abbotsford Police Const. Paul Walker says.

He adds that there is no excuse to remain behind and defy the evacuation order.

“These are farms, these are dairy farms, different agricultural components that we rely on. We do not the capacity to remove large amounts of cattle. This is a priority of life that are taking place right now, and we are starting off with human life,” he said. “I know it’s farmers’ livelihoods out there but we need the farmers and their families to evacuate.”

NEW EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED: The Emergency Operations Center has now issued an evacuation order for the entire portion of the Sumas Prairie to the Chilliwack border. Water levels are rising very quickly. Residents are being asked to evacuate IMMEDIATELY. pic.twitter.com/KqxFrHKsoG

— Abbotsford Police Department (@AbbyPoliceDept) November 16, 2021

Tuesday afternoon, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said the drainage in the Sumas prairies will take a while for that water to dissipate into the soil and into the ditches.

“This water can’t go anywhere. It has to naturally drain. We’re not talking about the day after tomorrow this is all over for Abbotsford. We’re just at the beginning of I think a big fight yet,” he said. 

“I have not seen this kind of devastation in my 68 years that I’ve lived here.”

The mayor added, his heart “breaks” as farmers in the region but their “life savings into their properties into their farms.”

“What’s important to remember is that Sumas prairie is one of the two largest parts of our farming community, there are a lot of farmers with livestock and in the feather industry out there. And they are doing everything that they can to protect their investments. Not everybody who’s received an evacuation order has left. There are some farmers who want to stay on their farms. And I totally understand that having animals myself, I totally get that. I would want to do that too.”

Late Monday the province announced the highway would be closed in the Fraser Valley at 7 p.m. due to flood warnings on the river.

But shortly after it was announced, and earlier than scheduled, traffic was blocked off in the height of rush hour.

“We were trying to keep the highway open to allow some of the traffic that was already stopped to get through but within about 30 minutes the water out of the Sumas River started to rise incredibly quick,” Walker said.

He said in about 10 minutes there was a couple of feet of water where first responders had been standing just moments earlier.

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Images of the highway show pooling water and impassible conditions which remain as of Tuesday morning.

There is no update on when the highway will be reopened and there are no detours in place as the backroads are also flooded through Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

“That area is completely underway right now. I cannot stress right now do not try that area, you will go off road into water-filled ditches…there is no workaround,” Walker said Tuesday morning.

FYI – Drivers are advised that #BCHwy1 will be closed at 7pm in the Fraser Valley between #BCHwy11 and No. 3 Road. This is necessary due to the flood warning on the Sumas River. #Abbotsford
Check @DriveBC for updates.
Info Bulletin: https://t.co/jKKWwZaZhr

— BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 16, 2021

The flooding in southern B.C. continues to wreak havoc on properties after unprecedented rainfall came down Sunday through to Monday morning.

There are several areas under evacuation orders issued by the Fraser Valley Regional District.

Late Monday night more people in properties in the Othello Road area were told to leave due to high floodwaters that had exposed the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline along the Coquihalla Highway near Hope.

“High floodwaters have exposed a high volume Natural Gas Pipeline located beside the Coquihalla Hwy near the Othello road exit and caused flooding and erosion. FVRD is issuing an Evacuation Order until this section of the pipeline has been made safe and flood risk assessment is completed,” regional district said in its evacuation order. 

Dozens of properties along the river at Chilliwack River Valley, and near Cultus Lake were also told to leave.

That rainfall has also led to concerns for several communities sewage systems and water supply, and residents in Mission, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Kent, and Abbotsford are urged to not do their laundry at this time.

To reduce the stress on your community sewer system, please do not use water for non-essential purposes (e.g. laundry) at this time. Our sewer systems are working overtime to keep up with all the rainfall.

— Fraser Valley Regional District (@FraserValleyRD) November 16, 2021

Abbotsford residents requiring sand & sandbags can go to the City of Abbotsford Works Yard located at 31739 King Rd. Sand and bags are located outside the main gates. You are asked to bring a shovel with you to fill the bags.

View all the latest traffic closures here.