The Army has moved in...

[Gail]

The Canadian armed forces has moved into Aldergrove in preparation for the Fraser River flooding that will occur if the weather conditions are favourable.

The river is supposed to peak in about 3 weeks... I do remember some flooding over the years which has covered farmland and even closed highways but there has never been such a foreboding feeling about it until now

We will wait and see what happens

[Amelia]

Are you having alot of rain?

[Gail]

No, thank the Lord, we are not. If the weather can hold out then we will be okay. If it gets too hot at the snowpack then it will melt too quickly, and if it rains than the Fraser might not be able to hold it all

[Bravus]

We're still in drought, so if you could just put a big flashing arrow out in the field and redirect some clouds down under...

Be safe, guys.

[Dottie]

Gail,

I don't know much geography up there, but is that the area of Camp Hope? Some parts of the camp seem to be rather low, and my son's mother-in-law lives at the camp.

[Gail]

The Camp was flooded already this year 4 times, I believe (Stan or Darlene correct me if I'm wrong)

When we went a couple weekends ago to the Singles retreat they were saying that they had already taken 600 truckloads of silt away. They've been using what they can to fill in around the Camp. By the front gate the silt was about 2 feet deep from what I could see.

Who is your son's mother-in-law, Dottie? I probably know her!

If the Fraser goes over its banks, the devastation will be far worse than this...

[Gail]

BTW- this running over that I talked about at Camp was a mountain stream, I believe. Although Camp is quite close to the river, it is still a good 1/2 mile away down the driveway, across the hwy and the railroad tracks and then some before you reach the river. I suppose that the railroad tracks may be built on enough of a dyke to hold the waters back.

Where it is really scary is in the Fraser Valley (try Googling it), where it is all farmland. My house is on the last subdivision before the flats (farmland starts). We are on a bit of a hill from the farms, so we usually don't have a problem.

On our drives around the countryside I've seen where farmers have brought extra soil in around their houses and where some have tried to fill their farmland with topsoil. I've also seen much flooding during a regular season, cars half buried, blueberry fields all underwater, roads washed out, etc.

If the worst happens, this definitely will make news.

[Gail]

Here is that news article from CBC:

Quote:

Army on flood watch in Fraser Valley

Last Updated: Monday, May 14, 2007 | 9:04 AM PT

CBC News

About 100 soldiers from Alberta have set up a flood command post at Canadian Forces Station Aldergrove in B.C.'s Fraser Valley in response to the threat of flooding.

The army advance party arrived over the weekend from Edmonton to set up the emergency headquarters in case the Fraser River rises above its banks in coming weeks.

Maj. Gary Whelan said the deployment was meant to give the military a "foot on the ground" in case more troops are needed to help fight flooding.

"We have a unit of about 100 people and we set up the radios. We have around 45 vehicles here right now and the rest of the units are ready to deploy from Edmonton. They're on a certain notice to move, but there's been no order thus far to deploy."

The areas that drain into the Fraser Basin received more snow than usual over the winter, but have been slow to melt. Experts have warned of floods if the temperature spikes suddenly or there are heavy rains.

Whelan said the military's role in the event of serious flooding has not been determined.

But he added they could be sent to help evacuate residents from the area, provide security or establish shelters for anyone who is displaced.

He also said the army is not the only branch of the Canadian Forces ready to be deployed if needed.

"There would be navy elements and a navy headquarters and there would be an air element or an air component headquarters as well."

About 327,000 people live in the Fraser River flood plain.

Some people ask why people would want to live there. I guess it's the same as asking why people live in Tornado Alley. It's a bit like Russian roulette, but your chances of running into misfortune there are slim. Still, it just takes that one time.

[Gail]

A state of emergency has been declared in 7 B.C. regions as the Fraser floods them out...

It takes a few days for the water to reach our southern part.

My brother lives not far from us on the other side of the Fraser River. His property backs onto a slough that is filled by the river. His house is up on a hill from the slough but it raises and floods his lot. He says he is worried

Here is the latest on the flood worry:

BC flooding

[Gail]

The dykes around here on our side are in pretty good shape, as the city just added another 3' to them. It's interesting to see how the banks of the river have disappeared, though.

[Gail]

Yesterday we went down to the Fraser river to watch its progress. The water level is supposed to peak on Sunday.

I wish I had had a camera! There was a crowd gathered to watch the high waters. Large logs come down the river, all uprooted. The current is very swift and boats need lots of power to travel upstream.

The water level is almost to the tracks on the train bridge. The park on our side of the river is submerged- beach, parking lot, and the water is just about at the dyke there.

It is just amazing. We will travel out there again tomorrow if I can, and try and get some photos.

As I mentioned before the water is rising on my brother's property. His house is high enough but there is a workshed in the path of the rising flow. He is sweating.