Officials in the British Columbia government have declared a state of emergency.
The move Wednesday gives the province various powers from stopping hoarding to restricting travel in and out of flood zones.
There’s been one death so in the historic storm that has seen some areas pick up as much as 277 millimetres of rain in two days, which is the equivalent of how much rain Halifax typically gets from June to August.
In a tweet Wednesday, Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said that Canadian Armed Forces air support personnel will be deployed.
In response to extreme flooding across Southern BC, we have approved the deployment of @CanadianForces air support personnel to assist with evacuation efforts, support supply chain routes, and protect residents against floods and landslides.
— Bill Blair (@BillBlair) November 17, 2021
Update for British Columbians: We’re sending help your way. We’ve approved the province’s request for assistance, and we’ll have more @CanadianForces members on the ground as soon as possible – to keep you safe, support supply chain routes, and provide other necessary assistance. https://t.co/75g8HW7eIL
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 17, 2021