With more rain in the forecast, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) is calling on residents to get prepared.
“Another round of heavy rain is on the way,” Environment Canada reported in a special weather statement on Nov. 23. It predicted 40 to 80 millimetres of rain for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, particularly near the mountains, the Sea to Sky corridor and the Sunshine Coast from Gibsons to Earls Cove between Wednesday night, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 26. Strong winds were also anticipated near the water on Thursday.
Another weather event is also anticipated for Nov. 30 into Dec. 1 early next week.
Although the storm will be shorter than the atmospheric river of Nov. 13 to 15, it will still bring moderate to heavy rain and strong winds that could worsen recent flooding.
Gerry Parker, the director of the SCRD’s emergency operations centre said residents should prepare for their own situations, and consider what they need to do and have with them. A grab-and-go bag or at-home emergency kit should be available - Parker keeps one in his garage and one at the door - with the necessities. Having drinking water is important, and people should consider any medication they may need and chargers for devices.
“It's trying to be practical about your personal situation,” Parker said.
The province has also placed a limit on fuel fill-ups at the pump to 30 litres to make sure essential vehicles have enough fuel to respond to emergencies. In a press release, the SCRD said there have been reports of people exceeding the limit, and is encouraging drivers to cooperate with the order.
Homeowners should also check any culverts on their property to make sure there are no blockages, such as fallen leaves. Parker said the most important thing to check for is that water can drain, so that it will not gather and cause flooding. For more information on culvert management, check https://bit.ly/3COONsq.
Updates and alerts can be found on the SCRD’s website at scrd.ca/alerts and on its Facebook page.
