As the threat of flooding across much of southern British Columbia remains present, more evacuation orders were issued to Abbotsford residents late Sunday night as crews worked diligently to pump water into the tiger dams..A tiger dam is a rubber dam that inflates with water, which can be set up in a few hours as opposed to sand barriers which can take days..In this case, the dam is being used in an attempt to block floodwaters from the Sumas River..Abbotsford’s mayor Henry Braun says dozens of people have been ignoring evacuation orders and continues pleading with them to leave immediately..The order includes the Arnold area, where Braun says as many as 50 people are refusing to leave..Another evacuation order was issued Sunday for residents in the Whatcom Road area, near Lower Sumas Mountain Park..The District of Hope declared a state of emergency yesterday and new evacuation orders for dozens of properties have been issued to the west of Merritt..Officials warn the third storm in the series of atmospheric rivers predicted to arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday may be the worst yet while Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the province is prepared to use Alert Ready — a system that notifies cell phones of emergency situations..Environment Canada has also warned of current snow-melt running off of the mountaintops due to warm temperatures could increase the risk of flooding..A Do Not Use Water Notice is in effect for Sumas Prairie..The impact of an atmospheric river event on life and infrastructure is relative to time and place, showcasing the often grievous dichotomy of nature..While the events will at times quench drought and alleviate forest fires, they will also bring catastrophe to communities built within areas vulnerable to flooding..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
As the threat of flooding across much of southern British Columbia remains present, more evacuation orders were issued to Abbotsford residents late Sunday night as crews worked diligently to pump water into the tiger dams..A tiger dam is a rubber dam that inflates with water, which can be set up in a few hours as opposed to sand barriers which can take days..In this case, the dam is being used in an attempt to block floodwaters from the Sumas River..Abbotsford’s mayor Henry Braun says dozens of people have been ignoring evacuation orders and continues pleading with them to leave immediately..The order includes the Arnold area, where Braun says as many as 50 people are refusing to leave..Another evacuation order was issued Sunday for residents in the Whatcom Road area, near Lower Sumas Mountain Park..The District of Hope declared a state of emergency yesterday and new evacuation orders for dozens of properties have been issued to the west of Merritt..Officials warn the third storm in the series of atmospheric rivers predicted to arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday may be the worst yet while Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the province is prepared to use Alert Ready — a system that notifies cell phones of emergency situations..Environment Canada has also warned of current snow-melt running off of the mountaintops due to warm temperatures could increase the risk of flooding..A Do Not Use Water Notice is in effect for Sumas Prairie..The impact of an atmospheric river event on life and infrastructure is relative to time and place, showcasing the often grievous dichotomy of nature..While the events will at times quench drought and alleviate forest fires, they will also bring catastrophe to communities built within areas vulnerable to flooding..Reid Small is a BC-based reporter for the Western Standard.,rsmall@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/reidsmall
