(Facebook/Bailee Allen).

By Aaron Schulze

Flood and Landslide Situation

‘Dynamic situation’: 2,000 Merritt residents evacuated, no estimated time for Coquihalla’s re-opening

Nov 15, 2021 | 10:13 AM

MERRITT — During Monday’s (Nov. 15) snap news conference, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the B.C. government doesn’t know if the recent atmospheric river is the largest storm in the province’s history.

However, he says the flooding and mudslides that have followed are a dynamic situation.

As of Monday, Farnworth says 2,000 residents in Merritt have been evacuated, and the entire population may soon follow suit. Between 80 and 100 vehicles are stuck between landslides near Agassiz and Search and Rescue mobilized early Monday morning, but winds may be challenging for those efforts.

The Coquihalla Highway experienced 200 millimetres of rain during the atmospheric river and remains closed between Hope and Merritt.

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Paula Cousins, an Interior representative in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, says it’s too early to determine the Coquihalla’s damage, meaning there’s no estimated time for its re-opening. The Coquihalla is also expected to experienced snow Monday evening.

Additionally, Cousins currently discourages non-essential highway travel in the Interior. If needed, she encourages drivers to watch for water pooling, have a full tank of gas, have completely charged cellphones, and pack food and water.

While the atmospheric river event is expected to end Monday, Armel Castellan with Environment Canada says winds are expected to gust up to 90 km/h in the Interior. He expects more power outages to result.

Castellan adds some locations have seen more precipitation in the last 24 to 36 hours than they do in monthly November statistics, which is normally one of B.C.’s wettest months.