Maple Ridge residents told to be prepared to shelter in place due to floods

People living in parts of Maple Ridge are being told to prepare to shelter in place over fears flooding could cut them off from the rest of the city in the next 48 hours.

“The City is preparing for the worst potential impacts from this third wave of rain,” said an online update Tuesday.

The forecast calls for 60 to 80 millimetres of rain to fall in low lying areas, and as much as 120 millimetres in the mountain areas by Wednesday evening.

Some areas are already seeing high water levels, with several road closures and a landslide.

The City of Maple Ridge issued a warning to 50 residents who live near the intersection of 112 Avenue and 246 Street after a slide damaged a powerline overnight.

Residents are not able to leave the area until BC Hydro is able to make the area safe again.

Meanwhile, flood concerns has impacted travel into Golden Ears Park and a campground has had to be evacuated.

“Golden Ears Park road is closed until further notice due to flooding and extremely high water in creeks threatening to damage the road surface. Gold Creek Campground is also closed,” Alouette Parks wrote Wednesday morning on Twitter.

The tweet adds more flooding may also occur on Fern Crescent later Wednesday which would impact access to and from the park main gate.

#GoldenEars Park road is CLOSED until further notice due to flooding and extremely high water in creeks threatening to damage the road surface. Gold Creek Campground is also closed. #BCParks @cknw @GlobalBC @CityNewsVAN @CTVVancouver

— Alouette Parks (@AlouetteParks) December 1, 2021

The risk of flooding is coming from both the North and South Alouette Rivers, exacerbated by an anticipated influx of water that can’t be contained by the Alouette Reservoir.

Other road closures include 224 Street from 132 Avenue north to 144 Avenue and 132 Avenue from 220 Street through to 232 Street.

Traffic control staff are on site and motorists will be diverted to other routes.

The city had issued a warning that residents should be prepared for an emergency in case their roads are closed and they cannot get access to groceries or other supplies.

“Therefore, citizens in these neighbourhoods are being advised to prepare to ‘shelter in place’ for up to 72 hours until safe access is available.”

All Grass Fields Are Closed Due To Weather Conditions. Synthetic Fields Are User Discretion. https://t.co/ipohHJgxdu

— City of Maple Ridge (@YourMapleRidge) November 30, 2021

On Tuesday the city also advised people with pets or livestock to make arrangements and should “consider moving their animals out of the area until the rainfall event ends.”

“The potential freecrest water release from the Alouette Reservoir may result in flooding of the 232 Street access into the Silver Valley and Rockridge neighbourhoods, Golden Ears Park and the UBC Research Forest. Combined with flood-related closures of 224 Street along the North Alouette, this would result in a complete road closure for these areas until the waters recede,” the update said Tuesday.

On Monday, city staff hand-delivered letters to a number of properties most at risk and encouraged them to plan for a potential evacuation.