B.C. declares state of emergency due to floods

Days after it became clear how dire the floods inundating so much of southern B.C. have been, the province has declared a state of emergency.

The declaration took effect Wednesday at noon. Premier John Horgan spoke to reporters shortly after, saying the order will preserve basic access to services and supplies for communities across the province.

People are urged not to travel around B.C. unless absolutely necessary and the province will work to ensure essential goods, as well as medical and emergency services, can reach communities that need them.

Horgan pleaded with British Columbians not to hoard items, saying, “what you need, your neighbours need as well.”

The premier says he is confident the province can restore B.C.’s supply chains “in a quick and orderly manner” provided people do not hoard.

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At one point, mudslides and flooding closed all highways connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of the province. Since then, Lougheed Highway (Highway 7) west of Agassiz re-opened to essential travel only and Highway 99 fully reopened in Richmond after water pooling blocked the route at Westminster Highway.

With the re-opening of that section of Highway 7, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming emphasizes, “This is for people who have urgent needs. People who need to move livestock, people who need to move additional pump equipment to the Sumas prairie area and the Barrowtown pump station.”

“I want to stress how important it is that the general public not tried to access that route for the time being as you will only impede the safety of others with urgent needs.”

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Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth also stressed, “This is not the time for travel for leisure purposes.”

“Our transportation infrastructure is crippled and we need to ensure that it comes back online as quickly as possible and we are prioritizing essential access.”

“Getting our road or roadways and rail back up and in operation is our number one priority,” Farnworth said adding the Ministry of Transportation will provide whatever resources are necessary to make that happen and Emergency Management BC and the province will help in all those areas.

“This declaration will allow us to implement any provincial emergency measures and allow access to all assets that may be necessary to prevent, respond, or to alleviate the effects of an emergency. This may include measures to prohibit non-essential travel, to prevent hoarding, to prevent price gouging, similar to what we have to do join the COVID-19 emergency. This way also include accessing any infrastructure at the provinces disposal,” he said.

“In short, we will be doing everything possible.”

People need access to food and eessntial items, @mikefarnworthbc says — getting roadways/rail running is top priority.
This state of emergency allows to:
-prohibit non essential travel
-prevent hording or price gouging
-access infrastructure needed #bcpoli @CityNewsVAN

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 17, 2021

About 17,775 people have been forced from their homes because of flooding. There are 5,918 properties under evacuation orders, and 3,632 properties on evacuation alert.

The provincial state of emergency is in effect for 14 days and may be extended or rescinded as necessary.