BC Flood

Commercial trucks begin making their way through the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt Dec. 21, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. highway restrictions continue as state of emergency extended

Coquihalla, Highway 99 restricted, Highway 3 open

Commercial trucks begin making their way through the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt Dec. 21, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)

B.C.’s climate plans battered by extreme weather as 2022 begins

Electric cars, forest offsets, carbon taxes don’t stop damage

Repair work at Bottletop Bridge on the Coquihalla Highway, Dec. 7, 2021. Repairs to dozens of highway sites in B.C.’s southern Interior will be ongoing through next year and beyond, at costs not yet estimated. (B.C. Ministry of Transportation photo)
A rail bridge washed out from the flood waters is pictured near Merritt, B.C. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Economic growth in British Columbia will face erosion from the recent floods and slides that crippled transportation links, but the resilience of government and industry to keep supply chains open limits the damage, says an economist. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Flood disaster takes bite out of B.C. economy, sends infrastructure wake-up call

Major highways and rail lines were destroyed in November’s storms

A rail bridge washed out from the flood waters is pictured near Merritt, B.C. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Economic growth in British Columbia will face erosion from the recent floods and slides that crippled transportation links, but the resilience of government and industry to keep supply chains open limits the damage, says an economist. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Andrew Charpentier (second from left) is arrested in the 45900 block of Wellington Avenue in Chilliwack after allegedly stealing from flood victims on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)

Man arrested in Chilliwack accused of stealing from Abbotsford flood victims

Andrew Charpentier has been charged with four counts of break-and-enter

Andrew Charpentier (second from left) is arrested in the 45900 block of Wellington Avenue in Chilliwack after allegedly stealing from flood victims on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. (Photo: Abbotsford Police Department)
A woman walks by a McDonald’s restaurant, in London, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. McDonald’s says it has pulled milkshakes from the menu in all 1,250 of its British restaurants because of supply problems stemming from a shortage of truck drivers. The fast-food chain says it is also experiencing shortages of bottled drinks. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

McDonald’s forced to limit fries in Japan due to B.C. flood supply chain issues

Customers will only be able to purchase Small-sized fries until Dec. 30

A woman walks by a McDonald’s restaurant, in London, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. McDonald’s says it has pulled milkshakes from the menu in all 1,250 of its British restaurants because of supply problems stemming from a shortage of truck drivers. The fast-food chain says it is also experiencing shortages of bottled drinks. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Gavin King, 8, of Coquitlam crafted mini clay Christmas trees as a fundraiser for the Abbotsford-based Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue. (Submitted photo)

Boy, 8, crafts clay Christmas trees and raises $3,500 for Abbotsford search-and-rescue team

Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue visits Gavin King of Coquitlam to thank him

Gavin King, 8, of Coquitlam crafted mini clay Christmas trees as a fundraiser for the Abbotsford-based Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue. (Submitted photo)
Construction workers stand in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway where a massive section of the separate southbound lanes was washed away by flooding last month near Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Coquihalla Highway reopening a major boost for B.C.’s battered supply chain

Crews repaired and patched about 20 stretches of the highway over 130 kilometres

Construction workers stand in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway where a massive section of the separate southbound lanes was washed away by flooding last month near Othello, northeast of Hope, B.C., on December 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Community Thrift Store, which is run as a partnership between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and the Surrey Hospice Society, has donated clothing to help Indigenous communities impacted by the flooding last month. (Submitted photo: Dylan Van Rooyen)

Surrey firefighters, hospice donate clothing to Indigenous communities impacted by floods

This is despite the Community Thrift Store suffering yet another break-in

The Community Thrift Store, which is run as a partnership between the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society and the Surrey Hospice Society, has donated clothing to help Indigenous communities impacted by the flooding last month. (Submitted photo: Dylan Van Rooyen)
The Great Canadian Flood Relief online concert takes place Dec. 19 with funds going to the Canadian Red Cross for people who lost homes and properties in B.C., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Online concert will benefit flood victims nationwide through Canadian Red Cross

30 award-winning musicians lined up for Great Canadian Flood Relief concert

The Great Canadian Flood Relief online concert takes place Dec. 19 with funds going to the Canadian Red Cross for people who lost homes and properties in B.C., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne (reflective vest) consoles a resident as he and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth tour the flood-damaged community, Dec. 3, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Military mission winds up as B.C. flood recovery effort continues

More than 700 troops served from Fraser Valley to Interior

Princeton Mayor Spencer Coyne (reflective vest) consoles a resident as he and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth tour the flood-damaged community, Dec. 3, 2021. (B.C. government photo)
The Vancouver Park Board has created a brand new beach for residents to enjoy. (Vancouver Park Board)

New Barge Chilling Beach makes its debut on Vancouver’s shoreline

Barge washed up on Sunset Beach during the mid-November storms

The Vancouver Park Board has created a brand new beach for residents to enjoy. (Vancouver Park Board)
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Cars, couches, propane and fuel tanks among debris from record B.C. flooding

‘Mountains’ of trash left outside homes after record rainfall

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Engineers say better forecasting, warnings could protect B.C. from disasters

Experts worried about how weakened infrastructure will handle spring thaws

Flood waters are seen from the air in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)

Agassiz fire chief recounts dangerous week of flood rescues

No local firefighters were injured during dangerous rescue operations

Highways outside of Agassiz ground to a halt following a landslide triggered by torrential rain. Agassiz emergency workers and volunteers quickly responded to multiple distress calls along Highway 7. (File Photo)
Aerial view of aftermath of flooding near Princeton B.C., Dec. 3, 2021. Farms in the Similkameen, Nicola and eastern Fraser Valley were heavily damaged by flooding in mid-November. (B.C. government photo)

Aid coming for flood-struck B.C. livestock, vegetable farmers

Berry, vegetable fields to be assessed, $1M for emergency feed

Aerial view of aftermath of flooding near Princeton B.C., Dec. 3, 2021. Farms in the Similkameen, Nicola and eastern Fraser Valley were heavily damaged by flooding in mid-November. (B.C. government photo)
Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)

B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway to reopen Dec. 20 for essential traffic

Temporary access while major reconstruction is completed

Culvert repairs continue Dec. 12, 2021 at Mine Creek on Highway 5, on of the damaged sites on the Coquihalla Highway after record mid-November rainfall and landslides. (B.C. transportation ministry photo)
B.C. finance minister Selina Robinson leaves the assembly with Premier John Horgan after the budget speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the federal government's $5 billion contribution to flood disaster recovery efforts in British Columbia is a historic amount of cash that reflects the extreme nature of the disaster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. welcomes federal government’s ‘initial’ $5 billion in flood disaster relief

B.C. Finance Minister says assessing the full cost of rebuilding remains an ongoing process

B.C. finance minister Selina Robinson leaves the assembly with Premier John Horgan after the budget speech in the legislative assembly at the provincial legislature in Victoria, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the federal government's $5 billion contribution to flood disaster recovery efforts in British Columbia is a historic amount of cash that reflects the extreme nature of the disaster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.

Ninja the cat survives Abbotsford flooding, travels almost 20 km to former home

Pet got away from owner during evacuation from Sumas Prarie home on Nov. 15

Ninja survived the flooding on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford in mid-November and made his way back to his former home in Huntingdon – almost 20 kilometres away.
FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

VIDEO: B.C. to lift gas restrictions in southwest region, extends state of emergency

Gas restriction were first put in place in mid-November

FILE – Motorists purchase fuel at a gas station in Kamloops, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. British Columbia is lifting gas rationing measures put in place following recent devastating floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Volunteers join forces to help clean up after unprecedented flooding in Abbotsford

Flood damage across B.C. is expected to cost $450 million

Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Nearly 15,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern B.C., where repairs on some severed highways and bridges have been made while the Coquihalla Highway, a major route to B.C.’s Interior, is expected to remain closed until late January. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward