Flood concerns throughout parts of the Central Coast are easing today, after a weekend of heavy rain caused several rivers and streams to swell, breaching banks and flooding several properties.
By noon on Sunday, residents of about 50 homes along the banks of the Bella Coola River were told they could return home after evacuating on Saturday, according to the Central Coast Regional District.
About 40 homes in the community of Hagensborg were evacuated, after more than 220 mm of rain fell on the region over three days, said Stephen Waugh, the emergency program coordinator with the regional district.
Another half dozen homes were evacuated in Walker Island subdivision, and a few homes in Bella Coola had to be abandoned temporarily, he said.
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Flood concerns along the Kingcome and Wannock Rivers, or River’s Inlet, have been downgraded from Flood Warning-or imminent flooding-to Flood Watch, according to the BC River Forecast Centre.
The downgrade means that river levels are less dire, but could still immediately breach banks.
Flood worries on the Bella Coola River also waned since peaking on Friday, Waugh said.
The BC River Forecast Centre downgraded its alert on the Bella Coola River to a High Streamflow Advisory.
“With moderate precipitation in the forecast, the Bella Coola River is expected to continue to recede and no significant rises are expected,” EmergencyInfoBC, wrote on its website.
“The dikes unravelled,” Waugh said, explaining that extremely heavy rain and flooding in the region at this time last year compromised many dikes along the Bella Coola river.
The dikes couldn’t withstand another extreme downpour and flood this year, he said.
“Firvale and Hagensborg were the worst hit,” Waugh said. “There is some moderate damage.”
The extent of the extent of the damage won’t be known until evacuees get back into the their homes and see first-hand, he said.
Around 25mm of additional rain is expected in the area throughout the day.
River Forecast Centre updates on flood conditions are available at http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/index.htm
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