Localized flooding possible around Lower Mainland
Posted November 26, 2014 5:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS1130) – Crews around the Lower Mainland are on standby to deal with possible localized flooding.
Homeowners are being warned about heavy rain in the forecast. The ground is so saturated people are being told to rake up their leaves and clear catch basins to avoid making the problem any worse.
“Making sure your gutters are clear. It’s such a simple thing, but a lot of people will get localized flooding in their homes because their gutters get clogged and it’s not going to absorb into their lawn, so it really does need to get it those storm sewers,” says Fred Armstrong with the City of Maple Ridge.
“Often there may only be an inch or two of water on the road, but somebody drives in a big 4×4 and they create a giant wave. So, we close off streets to make sure that the neighbourhoods and the neighbours can get into their properties and work with them to mitigate any issues.”
A couple of other places on high alert include the North Shore, Port Coquitlam and the Fraser Valley. Adding to the flood worries are the warm temperatures we’re experiencing right now which could affect the local mountains, making way for a possible snow melt.
The River Forecast Centre says this stormy weather will likely stick around until February. “You know we have these periods where it’s just rainstorm after rainstorm and the ground gets saturated and so you have to make sure you take all the precautions on your property to protect both your property and to be a good neighbour,” adds Armstrong.
Last month, parts of the North Shore were hit with heavy rain that caused nearly $1 million in damage.
