Updated: November 20, 2021 @ 11am
This page is meant to provide a consolidated source of information to our clients on the November 2021 BC Flooding.
For clients who require logistical support in business relocation or moving of business assets relating to the flooding, please contact our office immediately. As well if you are an affected transport client, please also contact our office should you require assistance. Affected individual clients may of course contact our office should they require assistance. We also are providing no-fee evacuation support for our clients.
We are asking all British Columbia clients (and any other BC residents) to contact their local MLAs to express concerns about why the Province of BC did not provide advance emergency notification of expecting flooding. Our neighbours in Washington State were being provided with text and media updates up to 4 days prior to the flooding. Why our Provincial officials did not do the same is of grave concern in our opinion. Please click here for contact information for all BC MLAs and other government officials. We have also provided a form letter that you may fill in and send to your local MLA. Please Click here for Microsoft Word format and Click here for Adobe Acrobat format. Simply fill in the date, your contact info, your MLA contact info and sign. Then submit to your local MLA.
We have broken the news down to areas in BC . We have color coded the buttons as follows:
- Red button means Evacuation Order or Closure.
- Yellow buttons means take caution.
- Green button means ok to proceed.
- Blue button means general information.
We are pleading with our clients and the general public to reframe from the hoarding of groceries and fuel as what you need is also what your neighbor needs.
Please select:
Travel Through USA
Providing you have received both of your COVID19 Vaccine's you are now able to go into the USA (for up to 72 hours) without the need for a negative COVID-19 test.
However, you are required to download the ArriveCAN app and complete the questionnaire.
For more information and detailed instructions, please Click here (as we have prepared a detailed posting of the ArriveCAN process).
Please Click here for the Washington State Department of Transport Live Updates (WSDOT) website for road closures so you can plan this route. Provincial authorities are recommending you take this route during the expected level of traffic (all highways using highway 7 and highway 3).We suggest that if possible and safe to travel that non-essential/commercial traffic uses the Canada-USA border route to return home to Lower Mainland.
The Canadian and USA Border Authority are also permitting non-USA licensed commercial vehicles to transit through the United States and back to Canada. Certain guidelines must be followed and if you should require additional information, please Click here to contact our office. While the distance to travel is greater (up to 250km) if you are a commercial transport this may be a viable option as the estimated travel time for highway 3 is estimated to be up to double the regular transit time as well as the challenge of driving highway 3.
We also suggest that if you see a transport truck in your rearview mirror and perhaps if safe to do, try to allow this vehicle to drive past you and either give them a wave or thumbs up. The transport industry operates on pay only while you drive compensation and with transport drivers trying now to make up for lost days of service when stranded (about $600 per day lost). We have submitted a plea to both Provincial and Government officials for financial assistance to prevent financial devastation to these vital transport drivers.
Abbotsford
Abbotsford currently has various effected areas. If you are within an effected area, please obey the evacuation order.
For up to date information, please click here for the City of Abbotsford Twitter Feed or please click here for the Abbotsford Police Twitter Feed
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Evacuation Checklist
If you are within the effected area, please use the following in evacuating your property:
- First, take a deep breath – everything is going to be okay.
- If you are a client of ours, please contact our office 24/7 at 1-800-667-9254 (Toll-Free) to notify as we will assist in your evacuation notification etc – and without any fees – our way of helping our clients.
- First turn off all appliances.
- Turn off your natural gas to your home.
- Take a series of pictures of both external and internal buildings and area of your property (vital for insurance claim), but do not take any large amount of time to do this.
- Pack a small bag of necessities including:
- At least 7 days of medication.
- Clothing, toothbrush etc.
- Insurance Documents
- Please take your pets with you.
- If you have livestock please make any attempt to get them to high ground and place food and water. Please contact Abbotsford SPCA @ (604) 850-1584 to notify location of livestock (both moved and unable to move to higher ground).
- If for some reason you are not able to leave your home or need assistance in doing so, please contact Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or Phone 911 (Emergency Only) to notify your location and situation.
- MANDATORY: Click here to register online (Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) then you can proceed to either Evacuation Reception Centre to register (this is so they know who has evacuated the area):
- If you are unable to take your pet(s) to your temporary evacuation location, please contact Abbotsford SPCA @ (604) 850-1584 who may be able to shelter your pet on a temporary basis.
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Return Home Checklist
- Inspect the exterior of all buildings. Should water or fallen debris has breached the building, please note that it is not recommended that you enter that building due to health concerns.
- Please inspect all exterior electrical connections to ensure not affected by water damage or fallen trees or debris. Click here for more info (BC Hydro Outages info).
- Inspect your natural gas home connection to ensure not damaged. Before turning your natural gas back on, please check all connected appliances to make sure no water damager and also turned off. Click here for info (from Fortis Gas).
- If you have pets inspect outside fencing for any damage. As well, make sure your pet has fresh food and water from a clean bowl.
- Be careful when inspecting food in your fridge or freezer to ensure no spoilage.
- If there has been any insurable damage to your home or contents, please take pictures immediately (for insurance purposes). Then proceed in contacting your insurance adjuster and reporting.
- Maybe go and see if your neighbour or any disabled or elderly residents nearby need assistance in returning to their homes.
Major highway in Abbotsfords have been impacted by the flooding:
Additional Information on areas of major concern:
Highway 1 (east of Highway, Sumas Prairie)
Highway 11 (South of Abby-Mission bridge)
Donations (Abbotsford)
Archway Community Services:
Archway is accepting donations and food. Visit Archway.ca/Flood to find out what the most needed items are.
MCC Clothing located at 31872 South Fraser Way Abbotsford (Click for Directions)
MCC is accepting donations for the flooding evacuees. Please NO large appliances or furniture due to their location and space
Monday – Friday 9-4
Saturdays – 9-12
604-854-4174
MCC – Thrift located at 33933 Gladys Avenue, Abbotsford (Click here for Directions)
MCC Thrift is accepting donations for the flooding evacuees.
Tuesday – Saturday 9:30-2
bcthrift@mccbc.ca
MCC will be giving all evacuee’s a gift voucher of $25.00 for them to come in and spend at either of their thrift store.
Chilliwack and Area
Chilliwack and area including Cultas Lake experienced localized flooding and damage.
For more information on evacuation alerts, road closures etc., please visit:
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Evacuation Checklist
If you are within the effected area, please use the following in evacuating your property:
- First, take a deep breath – everything is going to be okay.
- If you are a client of ours, please contact our office 24/7 at 1-800-667-9254 (Toll-Free) to notify as we will assist in your evacuation notification etc – and without any fees – our way of helping our clients.
- First turn off all appliances.
- Turn off your natural gas to your home.
- Take a series of pictures of both external and internal buildings and area of your property (vital for insurance claim), but do not take any large amount of time to do this.
- Pack a small bag of necessities including:
- At least 7 days of medication.
- Clothing, toothbrush etc.
- Insurance Documents
- Please take your pets with you.
- If you have livestock please make any attempt to get them to high ground and place food and water. Please contact Chilliwack SPCA (604) 823-6612 to notify location of livestock (both moved and unable to move to higher ground).
- If for some reason you are not able to leave your home or need assistance in doing so, please contact Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-9311 or Phone 911 (Emergency Only) to notify your location and situation.
- MANDATORY: Click here to register online (Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA).
- If you are unable to take your pet(s) to your temporary evacuation location, please contact Chilliwack SPCA (604) 823-6612 who may be able to shelter your pet on a temporary basis.
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
When you return to your home after an evacuation, please select the following for a comprehensive returning home checklist:
Return Home Checklist
- Inspect the exterior of all buildings. Should water or fallen debris has breached the building, please note that it is not recommended that you enter that building due to health concerns.
- Please inspect all exterior electrical connections to ensure not affected by water damage or fallen trees or debris. Click here for more info (BC Hydro Outages info).
- Inspect your natural gas home connection to ensure not damaged. Before turning your natural gas back on, please check all connected appliances to make sure no water damager and also turned off. Click here for info (from Fortis Gas).
- If you have pets inspect outside fencing for any damage. As well, make sure your pet has fresh food and water from a clean bowl.
- Be careful when inspecting food in your fridge or freezer to ensure no spoilage.
- If there has been any insurable damage to your home or contents, please take pictures immediately (for insurance purposes). Then proceed in contacting your insurance adjuster and reporting.
- Maybe go and see if your neighbour or any disabled or elderly residents nearby need assistance in returning to their homes.
Please make sure you regularly Click here to City of Chilliwack Flood Protection so that you can stay informed.
Yarrow
For more information on evacuation alerts, road closures etc., please visit:
Click here to City of Chilliwack Flood Protection
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Evacuation Checklist
If you are within the effected area, please use the following in evacuating your property:
- First, take a deep breath – everything is going to be okay.
- If you are a client of ours, please contact our office 24/7 at 1-800-667-9254 (Toll-Free) to notify as we will assist in your evacuation notification etc – and without any fees – our way of helping our clients.
- First turn off all appliances.
- Turn off your natural gas to your home.
- Take a series of pictures of both external and internal buildings and area of your property (vital for insurance claim), but do not take any large amount of time to do this.
- Pack a small bag of necessities including:
- At least 7 days of medication.
- Clothing, toothbrush etc.
- Insurance Documents
- Please take your pets with you.
- If you have livestock please make any attempt to get them to high ground and place food and water. Please contact Chilliwack SPCA (604) 823-6612 to notify location of livestock (both moved and unable to move to higher ground).
- If for some reason you are not able to leave your home or need assistance in doing so, please contact Chilliwack RCMP 604-792-9311 or Phone 911 (Emergency Only) to notify your location and situation.
- MANDATORY: Click here to register online (Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA). If you require emergency evacuee housing, please call 604-392-1183 between 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM to request assistance.
- If you are unable to take your pet(s) to your temporary evacuation location, please contact Chilliwack SPCA (604) 823-6612 who may be able to shelter your pet on a temporary basis.
When you return to your home after an evacuation, please select the following for a comprehensive returning home checklist:
Return Home Checklist
- Inspect the exterior of all buildings. Should water or fallen debris has breached the building, please note that it is not recommended that you enter that building due to health concerns.
- Please inspect all exterior electrical connections to ensure not affected by water damage or fallen trees or debris. Click here for more info (BC Hydro Outages info).
- Inspect your natural gas home connection to ensure not damaged. Before turning your natural gas back on, please check all connected appliances to make sure no water damager and also turned off. Click here for info (from Fortis Gas).
- If you have pets inspect outside fencing for any damage. As well, make sure your pet has fresh food and water from a clean bowl.
- Be careful when inspecting food in your fridge or freezer to ensure no spoilage.
- If there has been any insurable damage to your home or contents, please take pictures immediately (for insurance purposes). Then proceed in contacting your insurance adjuster and reporting.
- Maybe go and see if your neighbour or any disabled or elderly residents nearby need assistance in returning to their homes.
Please make sure you regularly Click here to City of Chilliwack Flood Protection so that you can stay informed.
Coquihalla Highway
The Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5), closed in both directions. Mudslide at Exit 202 (11 km south of Great Bear Snowshed). Road closed. Assessment in progress. Estimated time of opening not available. It is estimated that it will takes several months before the Coquihalla (Highway 5) re-opens. Detour not available. Road closed between Hope and Merritt.
You can Click here for Drive BC map which will include webcam links and details of the closure.
Lillooet (Highway 99)
Agassiz
Please note that traffic delays are to be expected and you can click here for information from Drive BC. As well click here for Google Maps or click here for Apple Maps as both services are being updated continuously.
Highway 3 (Crowsnet)
Highway 3 (also known as the Crowsnet Highway) is now open to commerical and essential vehicles only. No recreational or non-essential travel permitted. The only exception is if you are trying to return home (having been stranded due to the flood).
It is estimated that you can expect up to 3-4 hours to travel between Hope and Princeton via Highway 3 (normally takes 1.5 hours to transit). This is due to both the increased traffic (as highway 3 is the only highway open to the BC Interior) as several section where alternating single lane traffic is required while road crews continue to clear and repair the highway.
Prior to driving on Highway 3 or any highway for that matter please look at:
Highway Travel Checklist
Make sure you have the following before highway travel:
- Full tank of fuel.
- Winter/Snow Tires
- Charged cell phone
- Medical Card
- Credit/Debit Card or sufficient cash for 3 hotel nights stay and fuel.
- Enough food for 48 hours
- Warm blanket
- Road flares
- Small shovel
- Small bag of sand
Click here for information from Drive BC. As well click here for Google Maps or click here for Apple Maps as both services are being updated continuously.
Merritt
For up to date info, please click here for the City of Merritt Twitter feed
Retrieving Pet's left behind in Merritt
Remaining in Merrit can be a health risk as currently no waste is being processed through the water treatment plant.
Click here for the official Merrit Evacuation order. Here is a map of the effected area:
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Evacuation Checklist
If you are within the effected area, please use the following in evacuating your property:
- First, take a deep breath – everything is going to be okay.
- If you are a client of ours, please contact our office 24/7 at 1-800-667-9254 (Toll-Free) to notify as we will assist in your evacuation notification etc – and without any fees – our way of helping our clients.
- First turn off all appliances.
- Turn off your natural gas to your home.
- Take a series of pictures of both external and internal buildings and area of your property (vital for insurance claim), but do not take any large amount of time to do this.
- Pack a small bag of necessities including:
- At least 7 days of medication.
- Clothing, toothbrush etc.
- Insurance Documents
- Please take your pets with you.
- If you have livestock please make any attempt to get them to high ground and place food and water. Please contact Kamloops SPCA @ (250) 376-7722 to notify location of livestock (both moved and unable to move to higher ground).
- If for some reason you are not able to leave your home or need assistance in doing so, please contact Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 or Phone 911 (Emergency Only) to notify your location and situation.
- MANDATORY: Click here to register online (Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA). You can then proceed to either Kamloops ESS Reception Centre is located at McArthur Island at 1655 Island Parkway, Kamloops (Click for Directions) or Kelowna ESS Reception Centre is located at 1800 Parkinson Way, Kelowna (Click for Directions).
- If you are unable to take your pet(s) to your temporary evacuation location, please contact Kamloops SPCA @ (250) 376-7722 who may be able to shelter your pet on a temporary basis.
When you return to your home after an evacuation, please select the following for a comprehensive returning home checklist:
Return Home Checklist
- Inspect the exterior of all buildings. Should water or fallen debris has breached the building, please note that it is not recommended that you enter that building due to health concerns.
- Please inspect all exterior electrical connections to ensure not affected by water damage or fallen trees or debris. Click here for more info (BC Hydro Outages info).
- Inspect your natural gas home connection to ensure not damaged. Before turning your natural gas back on, please check all connected appliances to make sure no water damager and also turned off. Click here for info (from Fortis Gas).
- If you have pets inspect outside fencing for any damage. As well, make sure your pet has fresh food and water from a clean bowl.
- Be careful when inspecting food in your fridge or freezer to ensure no spoilage.
- If there has been any insurable damage to your home or contents, please take pictures immediately (for insurance purposes). Then proceed in contacting your insurance adjuster and reporting.
- Maybe go and see if your neighbour or any disabled or elderly residents nearby need assistance in returning to their homes.
Princeton
For more information on areas of Princeton that are effected, please Click here for the Town of Princeton Flood information page.
For travel information for Highway 3 (Princeton to Hope), Click here.
If you are required to leave an evacuated area or choose to leave under an evacuation alert, please select the following for a comprehensive evacuation checklist:
Evacuation Checklist
If you are within the effected area, please use the following in evacuating your property:
- First, take a deep breath – everything is going to be okay.
- If you are a client of ours, please contact our office 24/7 at 1-800-667-9254 (Toll-Free) to notify as we will assist in your evacuation notification etc – and without any fees – our way of helping our clients.
- First turn off all appliances.
- Turn off your natural gas to your home.
- Take a series of pictures of both external and internal buildings and area of your property (vital for insurance claim), but do not take any large amount of time to do this.
- Pack a small bag of necessities including:
- At least 7 days of medication.
- Clothing, toothbrush etc.
- Insurance Documents
- Please take your pets with you.
- If you have livestock please make any attempt to get them to high ground and place food and water. Please contact South Okanagan/Similkameen SPCA @ (250) 493-0136 to notify location of livestock (both moved and unable to move to higher ground).
- If for some reason you are not able to leave your home or need assistance in doing so, please contact Princeton RCMP at (250) 295-6911 or Phone 911 (Emergency Only) to notify your location and situation.
- MANDATORY: Click here to register online (Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA). If you require emergency shelter, please make this request..
- If you are unable to take your pet(s) to your temporary evacuation location, please contact South Okanagan/Similkameen SPCA @ (250) 493-0136 who may be able to shelter your pet on a temporary basis.
When you return to your home after an evacuation, please select the following for a comprehensive returning home checklist:
Return Home Checklist
- Inspect the exterior of all buildings. Should water or fallen debris has breached the building, please note that it is not recommended that you enter that building due to health concerns.
- Please inspect all exterior electrical connections to ensure not affected by water damage or fallen trees or debris. Click here for more info (BC Hydro Outages info).
- Inspect your natural gas home connection to ensure not damaged. Before turning your natural gas back on, please check all connected appliances to make sure no water damager and also turned off. Click here for info (from Fortis Gas).
- If you have pets inspect outside fencing for any damage. As well, make sure your pet has fresh food and water from a clean bowl.
- Be careful when inspecting food in your fridge or freezer to ensure no spoilage.
- If there has been any insurable damage to your home or contents, please take pictures immediately (for insurance purposes). Then proceed in contacting your insurance adjuster and reporting.
- Maybe go and see if your neighbour or any disabled or elderly residents nearby need assistance in returning to their homes.
For more information on areas of Princeton that are effected, please Click here for the Town of Princeton Flood information page.
For travel information for Highway 3 (Princeton to Hope), Click here.
Please Note
We have made every attempt to provide up to date accurate information. If you should encounter a correction, please Click here to notify our office. We can notify verify the content on external web links within this post.
The information provided is up to date based on the date and time listed at the top of this post. For more current information, please select the provided external link for each area.
We thank you and please stay safe. Posted from Lower Mainland Office by Andre Choquette.
