Water service was restored late Monday, Nov. 15, to residents in the Redrooffs area of Halfmoon Bay, after the water main was affected by heavy rains.
Those residents are still under a water boil advisory, issued earlier in the day by the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).
Updated 8:40 p.m.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) has issued an evacuation alert for more than a dozen residences on Ocean Beach Esplanade and one on Lower Road.
The properties included in the alert on Ocean Beach Esplanade are 1944, 1952, 1958, 1968, 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 2016, 2022, 2028, 2036 and 2044. On Lower Road, 1847 is also under an evacuation alert.
Those residents should prepare to leave their properties on short notice in case of an emergency evacuation order. The SCRD will try to give as much advance notice as possible, and more information will be issued via www.scrd.ca or at 604-885-6800.
To prepare in case there's an order, residents should locate family members and agree on a designated meeting area outside of the evacuation area, in case they are separated. Essential items should be packed, including government-issued ID, medications, glasses, valuable papers, and - time permitting - keepsakes. Residents should be prepared to move disabled people, children, neighbours and pets, and arrange assistance if required. A mode of transportation should be arranged for all household members, and gas tanks should be full. Livestock should be moved to a safe area, if possible.
Updated 7 p.m.
The SCRD is asking residents to travel only for essential purposes for the next 24 hours, and to exercise extreme caution if they must travel.
“While the rain has now stopped, water flow may still peak in some areas and roads remain flooded in the region,” an update from the SCRD reads.
The SCRD responded to 36 areas on the Coast that have been affected by flooding since activating an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Monday morning.
Road closures are expected to continue overnight in the Redrooffs Area of Halfmoon Bay and Lower Road in Roberts Creek. An emergency exit has been set up through the Roberts Creek Provincial Campground for those in the Beach Avenue area of the Creek. The operator can be contacted at 778-683-5747 for gate access. In the Carey Road area, Flume Road can be reached through Eikelon trailer park.
Water boil advisories issued earlier in the day remain in effect for the Welcome Woods area, Elphinstone, Gibsons and West Howe Sound. An update will be provided when available.
First responders, shíshálh Nation, Fortis BC, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI), Capilano Highways, Sunshine Coast RCMP, Telus, Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Hydro, BC Ambulance Service, local fire departments and BC Parks are all participating in the emergency efforts.
Updates will be provided on the SCRD’s Facebook page and at www.scrd.ca/alerts.
Updated 6 p.m.
The SCRD has declared a state of local emergency, after heavy rains caused flooding, road washouts, debris flows and safety concerns on Monday, Nov. 15.
The order covers areas of Egmont/Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone and West Howe Sound. Staff of the SCRD and its agents are allowed under the Emergency Program Act to undertake all necessary procedures to prevent or alleviate the effects of the emergency.
In the order, the SCRD lists concerns for the potential of threat to life and safety of people, infrastructure and property: “the localized flooding and resulting road wash-outs and debris flows, failure of water mains impeding access to clean drinking water and disposal of wastewater pose an existing or imminent threat to people and property”. It will be in effect until the end of Nov. 22, unless cancelled.
At 5:05 p.m., BC Ferries advised that seven sailings scheduled for MV Stormaway servicing Gamier and Keats islands to and from Langdale were cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Crews will be working through the night on the two water outages in the region, Aidan Buckley, communications manager for the SCRD, told Coast Reporter.
Updated 2 p.m.
The SCRD has issued a boil water advisory for residents in parts of Halfmoon Bay, Elphinstone, Gibsons and West Howe Sound until further notice.
The notice came into effect at 1:30 p.m. after “a potential problem with washouts of water mains and loss of protective pressure in the water system”, an update from the SCRD said. It states water should be boiled for one minute at a rolling boil before it is used for drinking, cooking, washing food or brushing teeth. Boiled water should be stored in a clean container in the refrigerator.
The rainfall warning issued by Environment Canada ended at 1:15 p.m. The SCRD’s Emergency Operations Centre is continuing to coordinate a response to road conditions.
BCHydro crews are working to restore power to thousands of homes on the Sunshine Coast. The outage map lists a variety of causes of outages, including downed trees and wires, and a mud or snow slide.
Updated 12:15 p.m.
Crews on the Sunshine Coast are responding to reported road washouts.
The SCRD is recommending residents in affected areas prepare for continued flooding and potential road washouts or closures.
Two transit routes have been affected by road conditions. Route 1 will not provide service to Lower Road between Roberts Creek Road and the Roberts Creek cemetery, while Route 4 will not provide service north of Mason Road in Halfmoon Bay.
The SCRD also closed Cliff Gilker Park in Roberts Creek and both Chaster House and Chaster Park in Elphinstone, because of high water flows. For safety, the public is not to enter these areas until they have been reopened by the SCRD.
Any disruption to wastewater service will be communicated directly to affected residents, the SCRD said.
Updated 10 a.m.
The SCRD activated an emergency operations centre (EOC) the morning of Nov. 15 to help coordinate a response to flooding.
A rainfall warning continues to be in effect for the Sunshine Coast from Gibsons to Earls Cove. Environment Canada reports parts of the region can expect a total rainfall of 140 to 180 millimetres until Monday afternoon, as a significant atmospheric river event continues from the weekend.
Melting snow was predicted to increase river flows and cause localised flooding. Areas of Howe Sound, the Sea to Sky, Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley are also experiencing heavy rains.
As of Monday morning, the SCRD is working with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) and Capilano Highways to assess damage to the Sunshine Coast Highway.
Around 9 a.m., the SCRD began shutting off water in the Redrooffs area of Halfmoon Bay, after road erosion compromised a water main.
“This long episode of heavy rain could result in possible washouts, debris flow and pooling water as rising freezing levels will also melt snow at higher elevations. Local river levels will rise and river flows will increase as a result of the heavy rain,” Environment Canada’s report said. “Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.”
Updates can be found on the SCRD’s Facebook page and at www.scrd.ca.
