Stay home and don’t hoard, BC Premier Horgan tells residents; Fuels Association working with members
As of Thursday morning, the only route Apple is providing to get from Vancouver to Kelowna is an 8 hour drive through Washington state.
The B.C. government has declared a provincial state of emergency to mitigate impacts on transportation networks and movement of essential goods and supplies, and to support the provincewide response and recovery from the widespread damage caused by severe flooding and landslides which occurred as a result of Monday’s epic weather event.
Residents of British Columbia’s lower mainland area should “stay home, and don’t hoard” Premier John Horgan advised at the November 17 press conference organized to address the flooding disaster.
“You don’t need 48 eggs, you need a dozen,” he suggested. “The things you need, your neighbour needs too. Just buy what you need, and don’t hoard. Do as your mother taught you: treat others as you would want them to treat you.”
Possibly more concerning than the possible egg shortage is the idea that some gas stations are running out of fuel, and trucks needed to deliver more fuel are still trapped in the network of roads which are closed by floods, mudslides and infrastructure damage.
“Getting fuels into the affected communities in BC is important to support the responders as well as the local residents. At this time, our members are working with local and provincial authorities to assess the situation and understand how to safely deliver fuels into these areas. Our thoughts remain with the people of BC and we are committed to doing our part to support the response,” Jason Vaillant, Communications Vice President of the Canadian Fuels Association told Road Warrior News.
At the November 17 press conference, Transport Rob Fleming provided updates and status reports on the most critical transportation links. He thanked a variety of agencies including the BC Trucking Association for their work and support as the province deals with the unprecedented emergency.
“Our focus is on clearing, repairing and reopening roads to connect the Interior and the North to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, to get our supply chains moving,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “We are working closely with multiple partners to make this happen. It is a big job, but collectively we are up to the challenge and will get things opened up again just as soon as we possibly can.”
For the most current updates on road conditions and closures visit DriveBC
Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, made the emergency declaration on Nov. 17, 2021, based on the recommendation from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Emergency Management BC. The declaration will take effect immediately.
“This provincewide declaration will help us with the challenges ahead as we recover from the utter devastation that’s been caused by this natural disaster,” said Farnworth. “Getting our rail and roadways back up and in operation is a top priority, and the declaration will enable us to put the resources in place to make that happen.”
The state of emergency is initially in effect for 14 days and may be extended or rescinded as necessary. The state of emergency applies to the whole province and ensures federal, provincial and local resources can be delivered in a co-ordinated response to protect the public, which remains the provincial government’s top priority.
There are approximately 17,775 people evacuated due to impacts from the flooding, with 5,918 properties on Evacuation Order, and 3,632 properties on Evacuation Alert.
Click here to read the BC Trucking Association November 16 Statement
The torrential rainfall British Columbia has recently experienced has resulted in severe flooding, mudslides, and evacuation orders for a number of communities. BCTA’s thoughts are with those affected by the devastating floods.
As many roads and highways in southern BC are closed due to safety concerns, please visit DriveBC.ca for updates on current driving conditions and available routes. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is assessing the affected highways and giving regular updates as they work with local authorities and emergency services.
The priority remains with assisting communities who have been impacted and ensuring the safety of all road users. The BC Government has a news conference scheduled for this afternoon (November 16) to provide an update on the flooding and mudslide events.
Thank you to the dedicated first responders and those who have volunteered their services to ensure everyone’s safety. BCTA and our members will work with the BC government and local organizations to support relief and rebuilding efforts. We will continue to keep members informed on further updates on highway conditions and will assist our members in any way we can. If you have been impacted by the flooding, please contact us so we can support you during this time.
