A flood watch is on, and the City of Maple Ridge is making sandbags available to residents who want to protect their properties.
Environment Canada has warned that from Saturday, Jan. 27 through Wednesday, Jan. 31 “periods of moderate to heavy rain combined with elevated freezing levels and melting mountain snow may lead to flooding, water pooling, high river and creek levels, and possible landslides.”
Through Saturday, rainfall of 60 to 90 mm is expected. There will be a series of storms bringing heavy rains, with showers in the forecast through Thursday.
The BC River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisory for the Fraser Valley.
As a precaution, the City of Maple Ridge’s operation centre has left sand and sandbags in the parking lots at Hammond Stadium and Maple Ridge Park for citizens who may wish to deploy sandbags around their property in low lying areas.
Residents are asked to bring their own shovels to these sites.
The city continuously monitors rain and stream levels in the community and the gauges can be viewed in real time at mapleridge.ca/1201
Residents are encouraged to review their personal emergency plans and monitor the latest forecasts from Environment Canada over the next week.
If there is a significant change in the conditions or forecast, updated messages will be provided over the weekend. Residents are asked to report any concerns to the city’s operations centre at 604-463-9581.
The City of Pitt Meadows advises residents to use caution near rivers and on dikes, particularly with children and pets, as the rising water levels bring stronger currents, and can destabilize river banks.
Pitt Meadows offers emergency preparedness information at pittmeadows.ca
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