Evacuation orders downgraded, but Pemberton residents warned to be prepared amid flooding

Evacuation orders for six properties in the Pemberton, B.C., areawere downgraded Wednesdayeven as residents brace for another round of heavy rain and flooding.

More than 50 properties are on evacuation alert inthe Squamish-Lillooet Regional District due to flooding near the village, which isabout 150 kilometres north of Vancouver. This includessix properties that were placed on evacuation order on Tuesday.

The village remains under astate of local emergency.

The evacuation alert,which says residents have to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice,covers properties located adjacent to the Arm Canal and Pemberton Creek in the village, as well as properties near the Lillooet River further southeast.

Hobby farms on Collins Road at the north end of the village were also covered by the evacuation alert. Goats, horses and chickens took cover Wednesday as their pastures turned into flooded swamps.

WATCH | Residents water-ski through flooded Pemberton ditches:

Pemberton resident water-skis in ditch as B.C. village floods

7 months ago

Duration 0:29

With snow melting and water rising, Jonathan Rollins took to the ditches of Pemberton, B.C., for some winter water-skiing.

Days of heavy rain and snowmelt from record-high temperatures have pushed rivers over their banks and prompted flooding and warnings across southwestern B.C. Environment Canada saidthe Howe Sound region, which includes Pemberton andSquamish, will see about about 50 millimetres of rain before precipitation slows down onThursday.

Jonathan Rollins, a resident of the area, said there was a "knock on the door" early Tuesday, when officials told him he had to leave his home along Airport Road. That evacuation order has since been downgraded to an alert.

Drainage ditches in Pemberton were so flooded late Tuesday, Rollinsand his roommates used them to water-ski.

"We normally like to ski, but it's raining so much on the hill we can't ski 'cause there's no snow," Rollins said. "So we took our skis and a rope and we went out and found a ditch full of water and we just skied down the ditch ...being towed by the truck."

WATCH | Squamish residents brace for more flooding:

Village of Pemberton evacuation order downgraded

7 months ago

Duration 2:11

Days of heavy rain and snowmelt from record-high temperatures have pushed rivers over their banks, prompting flooding and warnings. Pemberton, B.C., remains in a local state of emergency as evacuation orders for six properties in the area were downgraded. As Zahra Premji explains, experts say more relief could be coming, theyre just not sure how long it will last.

A bulletin from B.C.'s River Forecast Centre said a gauge along the Lillooet River recorded flows reaching levels seen once every five to 10 years.It states that rainfall since Friday has ranged from 70 to more than 500 millimetres across the region, while the warmth has added between 75 and 150 millimetres of snowmelt over the last three days.

The centre is maintaining flood warnings for the Lillooet, Squamish and Cheakamus rivers, saying flows were expected to rise through Friday.

The District of Squamish said Wednesdaysome homes in the Northyards neighbourhood have seen "localized flooding" from the heavy rain and snowmelt, but river levels are dropping quickly and crews ran pumps last night in anticipation of more rain.

"We're not out of the woods yet," said angling guide Clint Goyette, a resident of theBrackendale area of Squamish, B.C. "This is pretty crazyhow much water is coming down."

Volunteers save dogs from flooding, society says

ThePembertonAnimal Wellbeing Society said on social media that staff with Blackcomb Helicopters had broken into the shelter to rescue five puppies and their mother from what it described as "dangerous rising floodwaters."

"Their swift and decisive actions saved lives and we are profoundly thankful," said the statement posted Tuesday afternoon.

WATCH | Flooding in Pemberton remains a concern as evacuation orders downgraded:

Squamish, B.C., has seen 'tremendous melt' with more rain coming

7 months ago

Duration 2:31

Armand Hurford, mayor of Squamish, B.C., says the town's defences 'seem to be holding' as it deals with heavy rainfall, melting snowpack and rising rivers.

A dedicated volunteer also "braved the icy floodwaters" to rescue additional animals and retrieve essential supplies, the society said.

Flood watches are in effect across the rest of the South Coast, including Vancouver Island, while high streamflow advisories cover the central and north coasts.

The province is shutting down Highway 101 at Trout Lake, just east of Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast, between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., so crews can improve culverts to reduce flood risk. A statement said a detour will be available through Redrooffs Road.