Vancouver Island residents question flood plan
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 | 8:54 AM PT
CBC News
Debris littered the streets on south Vancouver Island after flood water receded. (CBC) Many residents in the flood-ravaged southeastern Vancouver Island area are questioning whether the damage caused last week could have been avoided.
About 300 households in Duncan and North Cowichan were issued evacuation orders last Friday after heavy rains, melting snow and a high tide led two local rivers to overflow their dykes and flood some low-lying neighbourhoods with up to one metre of water.
As the cleanup efforts continued, some residents questioned whether the North Cowichan Regional District could have reacted more quickly to the threat, and want to know what it plans to do to prevent similar disasters.
'I was told when I bought the house that the dyke ... protects all our houses.'—Duncan resident Lori Williams
Duncan resident Lori Williams is the only one on her street who didn't suffer flood damage. She said she knows living on a flood plain can be risky, but thought local government had the risk under control.
"I was told when I bought the house that the dyke, that they've built for however many millions, protects all our houses, and I've seen a lot of water in the past, but they've always been able to pump it," said Williams.
Other residents told CBC they believe there's a connection between the flood, and the construction of a sports complex and subdivision near the dykes.
Phil Kent, the mayor of Duncan, denies the suggestion, and points out the existing dykes held, and local government is developing further plans to manage the flood plain.
"We have through the regional district, done a very extensive flood-plain management system which is near final completion, and that indicates some further things we could consider," said Kent.
42 damage claims made
In the meantime, district crews continue to pump flood water out of homes, and help families dispose of possessions, which have now become garbage.
Residents of Duncan, B.C., rescued a car from the flooded streets Friday. (CBC)A total 151 homes were damaged by the flooding and 42 disaster relief claims have been filed. Already 27 have been approved for repair and the first relief cheques could be mailed by early next month.
But 15 families are still waiting for the flood waters to recede to determine what can be saved of their homes. A Provincial Emergency Program official said water inside those homes has stopped inspectors from determining if they will be safe to occupy.
On Friday, the province said it had approved funding through its Disaster Financial Assistance Program for areas impacted by the flooding. The program covers up to 80 per cent of the portion of a claim that exceeds $1,000 up to a maximum of $300,000.
Meanwhile, students from Alexander Elementary School, which was closed by the flood, won't be back in their own classrooms immediately.
They are being told to head to school on Wednesday morning and their teachers will escort them to neighbouring Quamichan Middle School.
Classes will be held in several vacant rooms at the middle school as flood cleanup at Alexander elementary gets underway later this week.
