(Montreal) British Columbia on Saturday warned its residents to prepare for another round of rainstorms, as the death toll from the floods continues to rise.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has announced that another “atmospheric river” is expected to hit the north coast of British Columbia, with rain expected to move south on Sunday and Monday.
“Environment Canada informed me that there could be 20 to 40 millimeters of rain,” Farnworth said at a press conference. “Normally that shouldn’t be a problem, but obviously given the current saturation we are monitoring this very closely.”
Environment Canada has issued a special weather report for the north coast of British Columbia, warning that flooding and landslides could occur due to upcoming precipitation.
Mr Farnworth said the national meteorological agency was working on a new rating system for atmospheric rivers, the weather phenomenon behind flooding that washed away roads, decimated farms, disrupted supply chains in a large part of the province and caused deaths.
The bodies of three men have been found in the Duffy Lake area of British Columbia, bringing the confirmed death toll to four after historic flooding in the southern part of the province.
Over the past two days, RCMP and rescue teams have been trying to locate four people in the Duffy Lake area, where a major landslide has occurred.
“These three men are among those whose disappearance we confirmed earlier this week,” Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet said in a statement.
The RCMP say they have continued their search for a fourth man, but the weather conditions and the state of the premises made it difficult to find them. Sergeant Shoihet said the search at Duffy Lake is on hold for now.
The province’s coroner’s office has announced it will investigate the deaths. He intends to make recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“The year has been difficult. My thoughts are with the families and communities who suffered from these tragic losses, ”said Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe.
A woman’s body was found in a mudslide on Route 99 near Lillooet on Tuesday.
The British Columbia government on Friday announced it was rationing gasoline on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast after the severe storm cut supply lines.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has announced that a limit of 30 liters of fuel per visit to a gas station is an important step in maintaining supply as the province strives to bring in more gasoline by truck and barge from Alberta, Washington State, Oregon and California.
Mr Farnworth said on Saturday that gas stations were trying to find a way to automatically shut off a pump when the 30-liter cap is reached.
“People understand that we are in a very difficult situation,” he said. Our supply routes have been damaged, thousands of people have been displaced. Our agricultural sector is deeply affected. We need to maintain supply chains. We must be able to provide goods to those who need them. ”
The federal government announced on Saturday the creation of a joint task force to restore the supply chain to allow the resumption of the flow of goods in the province.
Provincial Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said British Columbia was able to airlift tons of food to area hog farms. The reserves are sufficient for another five or six days.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said there had been “good news” as the valves at the Barrowtown pumping station were able to partially open and allow water from the Sumas River. to flow into the Fraser River.
The pumping station helps keep Sumas Grassland safe from flooding under normal conditions.
While the pumps can suck up to 1.89 million gallons of water, Braun said the valves allow seven times that amount to return to the Fraser River when fully operational.
He added that even their partial opening makes a difference.
“There is already a dramatic change in some parts of the prairie,” he mentioned, adding that he could now see grass in some previously flooded areas.
He mentioned that he hopes the floodgates can fully open before the next storm.
“It’s a concern with weakened levees,” Mr. Braun said.
Highway 99 has been reopened for essential travel. Checkpoints will be erected to ensure that the restrictions are respected.