District of North Vancouver declares state of local emergency after atmospheric river flooding
Posted October 20, 2024 10:12 pm.
Last Updated October 21, 2024 5:07 pm.
Six properties in Deep Cove are under a mandatory evacuation order as the District of North Vancouver declared a state of local emergency Sunday night due to the atmospheric river-related flooding.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!The properties along Panorama Drive were ordered to evacuate after inspectors found a potential “failure of private infrastructure that could be a risk to public safety” on Sunday morning, the District said.
“The decision to declare a state of local emergency and issue a mandatory evacuation is not taken lightly,” the DNV explained.
“Due to the impacts of the extreme rainfall event and flooding on October 19 and the continued rainfall on October 20, the Mayor of the District of North Vancouver signed the state of local emergency order and mandatory evacuation this evening.”
The impacted residents are being offered emergency support.
“The residents of these properties are eligible to receive Emergency Support Services (ESS) to support the evacuation through the North Shore Emergency Management office (NSEM), should they request assistance with temporary relocation,” the DNV added.
Speaking with 1130 NewsRadio, Deep Cove resident Christy Andersen said the past few days have been a “rollercoaster.”
“When the flooding began to happen, we didn’t really know what was going on — it was just like a rush of water. Our reaction right away was, maybe this will just be a minute and clear through,” she said as she and her family had just arrived at their emergency accommodation.
“And then the water just became, very intense, and there was more and more water, and it wasn’t stopping,” she added. “It was getting deeper and just becoming more and more. So we just worked all day long, trying to divert the water and keep the water out of our house. And we managed to do that.”
While saving most of their belongings inside the house, Andersen says everything that was outside of the home was destroyed.
“We did a lot of cleanup today. … And it was it was dry when we got a knock on the door from the police and then fire chief saying we were under evacuation order,” Andersen said.
“What they explained to us is the geotechnical engineer came down, and they are concerned that where the [Cove Creek] culvert is, it’s developed a sinkhole, and [with] the water racing through … the driveway could collapse,” she explained.
“So they evacuated everybody around the area. It’s my understanding they evacuated us under a notice until Nov. 3, but they will assess it [Monday] and let us know.”
Andersen says the family has been “flying by the seat of our pants” since Saturday.
“The main thing is we want everybody safe.”
You can watch CityNews 24/7 live or listen live to 1130 NewsRadio Vancouver to keep up to date with this story. You can also subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
–With files from Angelyna Mintz.
