North Vancouver bracing for a severe windstorm, as flood clean-up continues

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Tempestuous weather continues to cause challenges on the North Shore, which is bracing for a windstorm.

This comes just days after flooding caused by severe rainfall. Over 45,000 BC Hydro customers have no power on Vancouver Island. So far, there are no major problems locally.

According to North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton, workers are being told to be ready for a clean-up if trees come down overnight.

“We’re bracing ourselves now for windstorm warnings right now, which would obviously complicate things somewhat. So, we still have crews on high alert.”

Walton says many District workers have already put in long hours this week, due to clean-up efforts in the wake of Monday’s heavy rainfall.

“I know we have crews who are obviously on-call, and if trees come down, usually it’s a combination of hydro and district workers if trees fall on any properties or roadways and things.”

Walton says while the windstorm is a source of stress for many, the cancelled rainfall has offered a bit of relief.

Flood clean-up continues

Crews are still cleaning up after homes in North Vancouver were flooded during Monday night’s heavy rainfall.

The overflowing creeks and rivers along Fromme Road are beginning to subside. But today, you can still hear the vacuums and pumps working, as restoration crews like John work to get out the moisture and mud from these homes.

“Property owner here, had the creek flood into her basement, about three and half feet up in the basement, so basically what we have to do is remove and demolish the content that was damaged and cannot be recovered.”

“Once we suck out all of the mud that’s in the basement, we’ll set up drying equipment; we’ll dry the whole interior. Then we’ll have to rebuild the walls [and] doors,” he tells us.

John says the clean-up alone will take a week, with repair work going on for about a month.