Friday, May 29, 2026
    ADVT 
    National

    Rain, Melting Snow Pose Flooding Concerns Across B.C. As Evacuations Lift

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 May, 2018 11:30 AM
      Many people forced from their homes by flooding in southern British Columbia have been allowed to return, but officials say there are still areas of concern in many parts of the province.
       
       
      Evacuation orders for about 171 addresses in Grand Forks were lifted Tuesday, with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary saying the threat of flooding had decreased.
       
       
      Residents of more than 500 properties across the province remained out of their home, and another 6,500 were on evacuation alert, warned that they may need to leave at a moment's notice.
       
       
      The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said drones were used to re-evaluate its evacuation alerts and orders. Residents would be allowed to return to their homes "as soon as the situation is appropriate," the regional district said.
       
       
      Farmers and ranchers have been hit hard by the rising waters, said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. Cows were removed from two dairy farms on an island in the Fraser River near Surrey, she said.  
       
       
      "The flooding is taking a toll on farming and ranching families again," Popham said, adding many agriculture operations were also affected by last summer's historic wildfire season.
       
       
      Temperatures have been unseasonably high across much of the province in recent weeks, melting snow faster than waterways can cope with it, said David Campbell of the River Forecast Centre.
       
       
      "We, not surprisingly, have seen ongoing, dramatic, rapid snowmelt across the province over the last few weeks," he said.
       
       
      Enough snow has melted to reduce the risk for many areas that have seen significant flooding, Campbell said, but large melting snowpacks could still overwhelm the Thompson and Fraser rivers, and waterways in the Kootenay region.
       
       
      Severe rainfall is also a concern, he added, because June is known to bring wet weather across the province.
       
       
      "It's difficult, really, to kind of stand down from the seasonal risk until we're well past those weather risks," he said.
       
       
      Chris Duffy of Emergency Management BC said there are still about 300 Canadian Forces personnel and about 380 wildfire crews helping with the flood response.
      Prev Next

      MORE National ARTICLES

      Murder Charge Laid In Death Of Man In Stanley Park Last February

      Murder Charge Laid In Death Of Man In Stanley Park Last February
      A charge of first-degree murder has been laid against a 29-year-old Vancouver man in the stabbing death of a man in Stanley Park last February.

      Murder Charge Laid In Death Of Man In Stanley Park Last February

      Illegal Ride-Hailing Underway In B.C. While Government Reconsiders Laws

      The Passenger Transportation Branch says at least seven app platforms are known to be in use by drivers and consumers in Metro Vancouver.

      Illegal Ride-Hailing Underway In B.C. While Government Reconsiders Laws

      Feds Expand Automatic Sign-up For Old Age Benefits To Include Income Supplement

      Feds Expand Automatic Sign-up For Old Age Benefits To Include Income Supplement
      Low-income seniors will no longer have to apply for an income top-up under a newly launched program to automatically sign them up for the benefit payments.

      Feds Expand Automatic Sign-up For Old Age Benefits To Include Income Supplement

      Leaders Must Tell Men In Their Parties Sexual Misconduct Has To Stop: Rona Ambrose

      Leaders Must Tell Men In Their Parties Sexual Misconduct Has To Stop: Rona Ambrose
      OTTAWA — Federal political party leaders must relay a message — particularly to men — that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated, says former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose.

      Leaders Must Tell Men In Their Parties Sexual Misconduct Has To Stop: Rona Ambrose

      Message In A Bottle: Romantic N.S. Mystery No Longer Romantic Or Mysterious

      Message In A Bottle: Romantic N.S. Mystery No Longer Romantic Or Mysterious
      A wedding-day "message in a bottle" mystery has been solved — but it's not the happy ending many would have hoped.

      Message In A Bottle: Romantic N.S. Mystery No Longer Romantic Or Mysterious

      RCMP Say Manitoba Prison Inmate Died After Injuries He Suffered During Fight

      RCMP Say Manitoba Prison Inmate Died After Injuries He Suffered During Fight
      STONY MOUNTAIN, Man. — RCMP are investigating a homicide at a federal prison in Manitoba that killed an inmate who was serving a life sentence for beating a woman to death.

      RCMP Say Manitoba Prison Inmate Died After Injuries He Suffered During Fight

      PrevNext