Sandbags, tiger dams awaiting possible flooding after drought: BC government

VICTORIA – The British Columbia government says it is ready to deploy sandbags and tiger dams in case flooding follows the ongoing drought.

According to Emergency Management BC, when rain falls after long periods of drought, parched soil can increase runoff and river flow.

It says the transition to the rainy season does not usually cause significant flooding and devastation from atmospheric rivers last year was rare.

However, he adds that flooding is natural in British Columbia and that people living near streams and rivers that have crossed their beds in previous years are encouraged to monitor weather and river conditions.

It also asks residents to prepare by making home emergency plans, putting together emergency kits and learning about local government response plans for their areas.

The government says it has prepared four million sandbags, plus 10 kilometers of gabions, a wall-like structure filled with sand, and 32 kilometers of tiger dams, the stackable orange tubes filled with water.

Following criticism last year, the province has also expanded its use of the Alert Ready system to deliver emergency warnings directly to cellphones in the event of wildfires and floods.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 13, 2022.

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