The B.C. government is declaring a provincial state of emergency to mitigate impacts on transportation and movement of essential goods and supplies following several flooding and landslides in the province.
The state of emergency is initially in effect for 14 days and may be extended or rescinded as necessary.
The state of emergency applies to the whole province and ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response to protect the public, which remains the provincial government’s top priority.
There are approximately 17,775 people evacuated due to impacts from the flooding, with 5,918 properties on Evacuation Order, and 3,632 properties on Evacuation Alert.
The federal government has responded to and accepted British Columbia’s requests for assistance.
In the coming days, additional federal personnel and resources will be arriving in B.C. to assist.
The state of emergency gives agencies, such as the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Emergency Management BC, the RCMP and others the ability to use extraordinary measures to protect people and communities.
“Our focus is on clearing, repairing and reopening roads to connect the Interior and the North to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, to get our supply chains moving,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“We are working closely with multiple partners to make this happen. It is a big job, but collectively we are up to the challenge and will get things opened up again just as soon as we possibly can.”
