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City of Vancouver monitoring river water levels for potential flooding

Photo Fraser River via Shutterstock As residents in the B.C. southern Interior prepare for a second wave of flooding officials are closely monitoring the rising waters of the Fraser River.

 Photo Fraser River via Shutterstock Photo Fraser River via Shutterstock

As residents in the B.C. southern Interior prepare for a second wave of flooding officials are closely monitoring the rising waters of the Fraser River.

On May 15 the Township of Langley issued an evacuation alert for the flood plain areas of Northwest Langley, Glen Valley, Brae Island and McMillan Island. The City of Chilliwack also issued an evacuation warning for residents of three properties in the Carey Point area.

The City of Vancouver’s Office of Emergency Management has activated the Emergency Operations Centre and is working with partners to monitor river flow levels and tides.

The city is communicating daily with Emergency Management BC and the South West Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre to offer help to flood victims throughout the province.

"We're definitely ready to help regionally with our closer neighbours upstream if they require it," says Daniel Stevens, the city's director of emergency management.

Stevens says staff are monitoring the shorelines and protected berms along the Fraser River as water levels are expected to be high over the long weekend.

He says based on the modelling that's been done by the province they are not expecting significant flooding in Vancouver but adds that the river will be running much faster than normal.

"We're reminding people to be safe around riverbanks," says Stevens. "Please obey signage if there are areas that are closed along the Fraser River specifically and have a safe long weekend."