Fraser River could peak today

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LANGLEY (NEWS1130) – Today could be the day we see the Fraser River crest.

People living in areas of Maple Ridge, Langley, Abbotsford and right through to Hope that are not protected by dikes are on evacuation alert. This morning, people living on Barnston Island were also put on alert. More than 200 homes are affected.

Down on Wharf Street near the edge of the river in Maple Ridge, Terri and her son Austen were busy gardening at their riverfront home as the swollen Fraser flowed by.

“There’s a beach in the front,” says Terri, pointing to the water where they normally enjoy a piece of Fraser riverfront sand when the tide is out.
    
But the brown river is already under their deck.
    
“There’s nothing you can do, no.  You just have to get all your stuff out, that’s about it,” she says, noting the water is almost two feet higher up a post in the river.

“The ducks haven’t left yet, so that might be a bad sign,” she chuckles.
    
Down the road, Captain Cory Burry is thankful his boat is tied on the inside of the dock near the Golden Ears Bridge, but others aren’t that protected.

“There’s more water, there’s more debris, and what’s happening right now is some of the boats out there with light lines on them, they’re moorings are busting off because there’s more power [in] the river coming down,” Burry says,  “and their boats are just floating down the river.”

“Other boat owners that have their boats tied up on the outside of the dock, it would be a major concern [with] debris coming down the river and going through their boats.”

Fisherman Barry Sasiadek has lived near the Fraser for 52 years and remembers when it flooded up to the basement windows of his family’s home.

But, the soft-spoken man says he isn’t worried and will let nature take its course.

On MacMillan Island, just north of Fort Langley, water is creeping toward the nearby parks, playgrounds and houses.  We met Tim in the area; his home is not affected, but his morning walk is.

“The trail here, you can’t get too far down it. It’s all completely flooded over. It looks like it’s higher today than it was yesterday,” he describes.

One concern for crews in Chilliwack is the berms and dikes, which may not be able to handle the high water. They’ve been riding around in ATVs, looking for things like beaver or mole holes, as it doesn’t take much for the dyke to be compromised.

The evacuation alert could be upgraded to an order if the water keeps rising and reaches its peak. That’s a possibility sometime today.

The BC River Forecast Centre says if the river doesn’t crest today, it certainly could happen tomorrow.

What to do if a flood evacuation order comes down

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have enough gas in the car to get to a safe area.

You should also gather your important papers and keep them in an area where you can easily grab them on the way out; that includes a list of your valuables, in case you need to make an insurance claim.

Hazardous materials like weed killer or fertilizers should be moved to higher points in the house so they don’t mix in with the water.

Family members should each have a grab-and-go kit with food, water, clothes, toiletries, medications, and chargers for things like cell phones.

Plan for a place to stay in case you need to leave; make sure family and friends know where you’re going to be.

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