‘We’re doing everything we can’: Fraser Valley anglers providing flood relief call for gov’t support

Rescuing people stranded in Hope, rescuing pets and livestock on the Sumas Prairie, getting food to isolated First Nations communities, ferrying farmers back to their devastated properties – that’s some of what the Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association has been doing since catastrophic flooding hit two weeks ago.

Now, they want the federal and provincial governments to step up and help them continue their work.

We safely evacuated over 100 people from Hope today. Our boats were also running from Mission to Chilliwack and back and Agassiz to Kilby and back. Amazing volunteer effort by FVAGA members #bcflood pic.twitter.com/ZhJ2fZOXz8

— Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association (@GuidesAssoc) November 18, 2021

Kevin Estrada says they’ve been volunteering their time and equipment non-stop, and he doesn’t think the need for their help will let up with more severe weather in the forecast Saturday.

“We have 12 to 15 boats ready to go all the way from Mission up to hope in case that we do need to send guys out to help with immediate recovery. Also, we’re ready to do more food donation drops to anybody that’s isolated.

“Each day has been a new challenge for us. We’re just trying to get as much help immediately to people, and we’ve been able to provide that. We’ve been able to provide some safety, some comfort to those that have lost their homes. It’s something that both the federal and provincial governments haven’t been able to provide.”

A snapshot of the Sumas Flats as volunteers/first responders deal w/and prepare for the potential of further flooding. Spoke w/@GuidesAssoc which wants federal/provincial funding, adding many are volunteering their time, money and equip. to help others.

: Kevin Estrada pic.twitter.com/xsfmcovTjD

— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) November 27, 2021

The support Estrada says the support they need is financial — and they need it now.

“Right now for our members that are in the field, we’ve done a lot of voluntary time, we took on a lot of cost. It’s evident right now that the federal government and the provincial government doesn’t have the resources to deal with a flood —  that’s a fleet of boats with professionals that know how to navigate the waters safely,” he explains.

“That’s what we do on a daily basis. This is our backyard.”

RELATED: Feds, B.C. form joint committee to coordinate flood recovery efforts

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier John Horgan held a joint news conference Friday night. Both fledged to make sure people and communities have what they need to recover.

Trudeau pledged to add funding to more provincial recovery programs.

“I’ve seen the best of people being there for each other, and quite frankly I am inspired and comforted by it because I know this will not be the last crisis Canadians go through,” he said.

“Canadians deserve a government that meets that capacity to be there for each other with that same ambition.”

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However, Estrada says there’s still too much bureaucracy to navigate, adding while they have received fuel from Emergency Management B.C. (EMBC) there’s a lot more that they need.

“We’re still waiting on liability coverage, still waiting on coverage for equipment, and diesel for the trucks that are transporting these boats all over the place,” Estrada says,

“We need to see more support from EMBC in regards to help on the ground — no red tape, let’s just get going. That’s what we’ve been doing since day one. It’s all voluntary and it’s been a considerable amount of time and effort and use of our equipment to get people safe and get the help that is needed right now.”

Another rescue by Jordi today. We are doing the recovery and work that the Province and Feds should have been prepared for at the expense of our equipment, time and money. Don’t put us through the bureaucratic paperwork, get us what we need now to continue on. pic.twitter.com/9dMs4GlSiq

— Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association (@GuidesAssoc) November 23, 2021

On Friday, Horgan also emphasized the importance of protecting B.C. salmon as environmental issues and fluctuating water levels continue to impact their populations.

Estrada says it’s far too early to tell what the impact of the catastrophic flooding will be.

“We are getting some reports of fish displacement with salmon. Have the runs been completely annihilated? We don’t know that. There’s definitely going to be fish displaced, just like there have been animals, humans, everything else,” he says.

Getting sturgeon back to the Fraser River is also something the association has been trying to do.

“A couple of our members a couple of days ago rescue the sturgeon behind Herrling Island walked it two kilometres to the main channel and released it safely,” Estrada says.

Almost time to release. pic.twitter.com/J3pB65DBpN

— Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association (@GuidesAssoc) November 26, 2021

While the work has been difficult, Estrada says his members are used to long days on the water in harsh conditions.

“It’s been draining. It pales in comparison to … the emotions for the people,  the farmers that have lost everything, the houses that have been destroyed,” he says.

“When this slows down a bit, I think we’ll take a deep breath. But right now, there’s a lot more people in need.”

Recovery efforts continue. Who’s job was this suppose to be? Extraordinary amount of time, effort and cost that our members and others are incurring to do this. pic.twitter.com/H1yUq4vzag

— Fraser Valley Angling Guides Association (@GuidesAssoc) November 24, 2021

An influx of donations and support have given the association a much-needed boost.

“We’re doing this all on on our own cost here, at our own risk, and so we do appreciate some of those donations. Until the provincial and federal governments step up with some more help, we’re going to use those funds to make sure that we can do our job safely, to get people the help and comfort that they need.”

With files from Martin MacMahon