The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) and Salish Soils are making sand and bags available at the Roberts Creek Fire Hall and Sechelt Fire Department for future rain events. In a Dec. 1 update, the SCRD asked residents to bring their own shovel to fill the sandbags. The supplies will also be made available at other SCRD fire halls in the coming days.
A “king tide” of up to 5.1 metres (16.7 feet) is expected to hit the Coast on Dec. 6, 7 and 8, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada tide charts for both Sechelt and Gibsons. The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PREOC) has indicated the Sunshine Coast is “at low risk” of being affected by the upcoming king tide, an update from the SCRD stated on Nov. 30.
PREOC has also told the SCRD there are no concerns about the supply of goods and services to the Coast, although the 30-litre limit of fuel is still in place province-wide to reserve gas for emergency services.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) is responsible for road repair and maintenance, and has advised the SCRD of three road closures on Monday, Nov. 29. Later that day, only Lower Road at Stephens Road remained closed as repairs continued. Drivers are reminded to slow to a maximum of 30 kilometres per hour in work zones to help keep crews safe.
Atmospheric rivers
On Monday, Nov. 29, the SCRD announced the emergency operations centre (EOC) would continue to respond to water and flood-related issues for a third consecutive week, until midnight Dec. 6.
The EOC was originally activated on Nov. 15, when an atmospheric river event brought heavy rains and local flooding to south coast B.C. By Nov. 30, the third atmospheric river event in less than a week was expected to hit the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and Whistler.
Environment Canada issued a special weather alert for Tuesday, Nov. 30, for a prolonged period of heavy rain between 60 to 80 millimetres for southern sections of the Sunshine Coast that was expected to continue into the next day.
The SCRD is advising residents to ensure drainage around their homes and culverts is sufficient.
Transit
Halfmoon Bay’s Route 4 is back in full operation on Highway 101 and Redrooffs after suspending service on Redrooffs Road on Nov. 28 and 29.
Supplies and services
Transportation to recycling facilities has been affected by flooding off-Coast, so on-Coast facilities are not able to accept mattresses, glass or styrofoam. Residents are asked to hold onto these items until the contractors are able to accept them once more.
Parks
Park closures remain in place for Cliff Gilker Park, Chaster House and Chaster Park. The public is not to enter these locations, for their own safety, and to ensure they do not block access for response and emergency crews.
