The City of Abbotsford has made significant progress in the aftermath of recent floods, announcing the downgrading of evacuation orders for 11 properties to evacuation alerts. In addition, a positive update came as the city lifted evacuation alerts for 474 properties on Sumas Prairie.
With the receding floodwaters and the BC River Forecast Centre lowering the Sumas River status from a Flood Warning to High Stream Flow Advisory, residents in Sumas Prairie have been given the green light to return to their homes. The city emphasized the importance of safety, stating that Rapid Damage Assessments were conducted on affected homes before the evacuation orders were lifted.
Out of the assessed properties, 341 homes were marked as “green,” allowing residents to re-enter their dwellings, while 28 properties were categorized as “yellow,” indicating access to these buildings is subject to certain conditions. Notably, the assessments focused on external structures only, excluding interior inspections of buildings like barns and sheds.
Residents are advised to seek further assessments in collaboration with their insurance providers to ensure the safety and structural integrity of their homes. While progress has been made, some road closures are still in effect as cleanup efforts continue.
The recent series of powerful atmospheric rivers that hit B.C.’s south coast since Dec. 10 resulted in widespread flooding, prompting evacuation alerts and orders across the Fraser Valley region.