‘The goods are coming’: Pleas for patience in B.C. following reports of panic buying

The head of the BC Trucking Association is pleading for patience amid concerns over supply chain disruptions caused by flooding in the province.

“We really need to get the message out for people to calm down,” Dave Earle told Global News. “The goods are coming.”

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Every major transportation route between the Lower Mainland and the Interior has been cut by washouts, flooding or landslides following record-breaking rainfall across southern B.C. between Saturday and Monday.

There have been reports of panic buying at grocery stores over fears that the supply chain, already under strain due to the COVID-19 pandemic, could be further impacted by road closures.

Following reports of food shortages and hoarding at grocery stores, Canadian food retailer Save-On-Foods said in a statement that all shipments in and out of the Lower Mainland have been put on hold due to road conditions.

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“We are exploring all avenues to get product to our stores as quickly as possible,” it said.

Earle said it’s completely understandable for people to be concerned about delays, but there is no need to panic as items can be rerouted.

“From the supply chain perspective, it’s important for people to realize that not everything comes through Vancouver, particularly your consumables, your day-to-days,” he said.

“We can access those materials, we can access those shipments from Alberta. We can bring them up through the United States. There are ways to serve these communities, and that’s what we’re working on right now.”

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Earle noted that Highway 3 is likely to be the quickest route to reopen, possibly by the end of the weekend.

“It’s really important for people to know that the goods are coming,” he said. “They’re going to be a little late. Maybe it’s a day or two, maybe it’s a little longer for communities that are cut off, it’s going to be a little more difficult.

“But no matter where people are … the goods are coming.”

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“This is what our industry does. We figure out ways to get what people need to where they need it.”

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth also encouraged B.C. residents to be patient, saying there are alternative solutions to transport food and there is “lots of supply.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said government officials are working with counterparts in the United States to find ways to divert those cut off from B.C. roads that have been destroyed by landslides and flooding, as well as to try to limit supply chain challenges.

— With files from The Canadian Press