The Fraser Basin Council released its warning on Monday, saying the vast sections of the dikes that hold back the Fraser River in the event of flooding are at risk of failing, unleashing a devastating flood that would cost in excess of $20 to $30 billion.
With the release of reports and flood maps for evidence, the group warns that a major flood event, either from the Fraser River, or coastal flooding due to storm surge would likely be the worst disaster in Canadian History. They are forecasting the number and intensity of floods to worsen over the next 85 years, according to CTV News.
Up to the present time, flood mitigation has been done on a community by community basis with costs being shared by local governments, with higher levels of government throwing in funds as the need arose. But with these new predictions suggesting that thousands of homes and lives would be at risk, a more comprehensive plan is needed.
This issue is particularly relevant when factoring in climate change and a warming ocean. On the very same day the report was released, the B.C. government coughed up $1 million of the $2 million-to-$2.5 million needed for a flood damage protection plan, according to the Vancouver Sun.
After the study was released, and partial funding advanced, Fraser Basin Council chair Colin Hansen said they can now move forward in developing an action plan. Naomi Yamamoto, the minister of state for emergency preparedness, stressed that flood protection is a shared responsibility but the provincial government is taking the warning seriously, adding, “Both for the safety of our residents and our visitors, this is as important as any endeavor taken on by our province.”
BC Local News is reporting there is no breakdown of the projects that will be required along the Fraser River or along the coast, but that issue, along with a timeline for the various projects and the amount of cost-sharing needed for completion of the projects is the next phase of work the council is planning.
British Columbia actually is deserving of a “Green Thumbs Up” for its proactive action on being prepared for worst case scenarios. For a number of years now, countries and in particular, coastal cities around the world have been warned to take action now rather than wait for a disaster to strike. Climate change is real, as is the slow rise in ocean levels. Working to protect coastal areas, repairing or upgrading levees and dikes is something we can do now while we have time.
