Hundreds seek refuge in and around Hope as B.C. floods, mudslides cut off access

Hundreds of people who tried to get through Hope on Sunday remain stuck in the area.

Major highways, including the Coquihalla, remain closed with either no word on when they’ll reopen or estimates suggesting it will take weeks before some can.

People stranded by the closures in and around Hope have been able to find shelter in various places like hotels, motels, a church, school, and even camp grounds just outside the community.

Views as crews work to assess the #BCstorm damage on our highways:
– Flooding on #BCHwy1 and No. 3 Road Overpass
– Crews survey the damage on #BCHwy7 at Ruby Creek
– Overflow in the Fraser Valley at Whatcom Road Interchange
– Work on #BCHwy1 at Patterson Creek pic.twitter.com/j4jdZFvIx1

— BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 16, 2021

Camp Hope is east of that district municipality along Highway 7.

Direct Bill Gerber estimates more than 250 people have taken refuge on their grounds.

“We won’t run out of food period. However, we might run out of certain things like milk or eggs, or things like that, maybe some fresh produce,” he told CityNews Tuesday.

Jeff Kuhn, lead pastor at Grace Baptist Church, which has also been providing shelter to travellers, says an estimated 1,200 people have found themselves stuck in and around the community.

“I would say last night we had about 250 people sleeping in the church,” he said, adding the local high school has temporarily housed more than 600 others.

“But what we find here in the day is a lot of people, because they don’t want to sleep on the floor, will sleep in their car but come here for food. So we’re feeding, I would say, around 400 here, maybe close to 900 at the high school.”

Gerber says many of the people who have found themselves stranded have no idea when they’ll be able to go home, with limited options to get around.

“Once you’re in Hope there’s no where to go and the motels are full, and their power was out for quite a while yesterday as well. I’m guessing most people will just sit and stay until they can either head into Vancouver or head up into the Interior,” he added.

Despite the uncertainty, Kuhn admits spirits are quite high, noting everyone has been kind and gracious — though eager to get back to their respective homes.

Kuhn adds many Hope residents have also put their hands up to help, taking in families in need of warmth and shelter.

“I would say there are maybe 100 to 120 people who are sleeping in homes now, which is good, a way better sleep. But we’re still struggling, tand people are a bit discouraged,” the pastor said of the lack of information being shared on the situation.

Related articles: 

• B.C. storm recap: Flooding displaces thousands, washes out roads

• Crews plan to sift through debris after dozens rescued on Highway 7

• Dozens of people rescued after Lougheed Highway mudslides

Nicole Kohl is among the people staying at Camp Hope after she got stranded while driving from Salmon Arm to Abbotsford.

She spent Sunday night in her car but was able to get a spot at the camp, along with her dog, Monday, which was a huge relief.

“They had hot food for me when I got there, basically I came right at dinner time when I found out about it. They had beds, mattresses, blankets, they even have showers you can use, actual running washrooms,” she recalled.

Meanwhile, many of those who have been turned around with no where to go for now have been able to connect with one another through social media.

The Stuck on 7 group has been filled with people trying to share information with others to help them during their struggles. It’s also been a place where people with loved ones they haven’t heard from have turned to try to connect.

On Sunday, two mudslides forced about 250 people, including 50 children, to shelter in their vehicles along Highway 7. They were eventually air lifted out, being taken to Agassiz.

Two mudslides trapped close to 300 people along Lougheed Highway/Highway 7 between Agassiz and Hope Sunday, Nov. 14. (Courtesy Vancouver Fire Rescue Services)

However, a third slide just west of Hope and east of the other two slides trapped dozens of other people. That third slide was cleared Monday night and those people sent toward Hope, where many, if not all, of them remain.

Metro Vancouver is now cut off from direct road access to the rest of the province and Canada, with many of the major highways still completely flooded or washed out.

Images show Highway 1, the most popular route through the Fraser Valley for those looking to head east, was completely submerged Tuesday.