‘The rain, we can handle’: Abbotsford mayor carefully monitoring flood risk from Nooksack River
Posted November 27, 2021 3:37 pm.
Last Updated November 27, 2021 9:35 pm.
Saying Abbotsford is as prepared as it possibly can be for the weekend storm, Mayor Henry Braun says the risk of more flooding is coming from South of the border — and he’ll be watching the Nooksack River “like a hawk.”
In his update Saturday, Braun said the situation has been stable for the past 24 hours, with the floodwater levels in the hard-hit Sumas Prairie having dropped nine inches.
“That may not be the case for today into tomorrow,” Braun said, adding up to 1,200 mm of rain could fall by Sunday morning.
“We remain extremely concerned about the coming weather events and the impact they will have on our flood situation.”
RELATED: Why is the flooding in Abbotsford so severe? A look at the Nooksack
Braun says the update from officials in bordering Whatcom County is causing the greatest concern.
“The rain we can handle. I’m pretty confident of that,” he said. “What we can’t handle is if the Nooksack overflows and starts emptying again into Sumas Prairie.”
The Nooksack is expected to reach the “moderate flood stage” Sunday, and Braun said the river has “experienced significant damage and sediment buildup” which “makes it challenging to predict the magnitude of the floodwaters into Abbotsford in the coming days.”
1/2 – The Nooksack is projected to reach moderate flood stage on Sunday. Damage to levee systems from previous storms may result in greater impacts to the floodplain areas than typical at these river levels. There is much uncertainty as a result of last week’s floods.
— Whatcom County Gov (@Whatcomctygov) November 27, 2021
2/2 – National Guard troops are expected to arrive on Saturday & their mission is to assist local agencies. Specific mission objectives include sandbagging, transportation of supplies & providing support to Nooksack, Sumas & Everson. Details here https://t.co/SeqeboDTdZ
— Whatcom County Gov (@Whatcomctygov) November 27, 2021
While the National Guard is in Whatcom County helping with sandbagging, Braun says the Huntingdon area is at the greatest risk on this side of the line.
“Residents need to be prepared to leave on short notice. Prior to an evacuation order being issued, we will be doing our very best to provide residents with as much advanced notice as possible. However, residents still need to be prepared to leave immediately as we may only receive limited notice due to changing conditions,” Braun said.
“I am imploring everyone located within an evacuation alert area to get themselves ready and prepared with transportation and essential items such as government-issued ID, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers, immediate care needs for dependents, and keepsakes. Planning now is imperative and will provide you with the best options in an emergency situation.”
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR HUNTINGDON RESIDENTS:
The Huntingdon area remains on evacuation alert and residents there should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. pic.twitter.com/xN08b8PrIL— City of Abbotsford (@City_Abbotsford) November 27, 2021
The Canadian Armed Forces are focussing their sandbagging efforts on this area, and Braun said he was assured by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that military support will remain available as long as it’s needed.
“Prime Minister Trudeau was very clear with me. He wants all Abbotsford residents to know that he and his government are here to support us with whatever we need and that we are not in this alone,” said Braun.
Progress on repairing the breach in the dike is 95 per cent complete, while the work being done to raise it is about 30 per cent done.
When asked about whether the province and the feds have committed enough resources to assist municipalities with shoring up critical infrastructure to prevent future disasters, Braun said he is encouraged by what he heard from Trudeau and Premier John Horgan Friday night.
“I don’t think now is the time to have those discussions — and there will be many of them. We are still laser-focused on a flood event that we are still in,” he said.
