Several properties in Squamish have been put on evacuation alert due to flooding concerns, after a surge of water from Place Glacier flowed into Poole Creek over the weekend.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District says the notice was issued as a precaution, noting the forecast is now calling for less rain in the coming days than was expected.
“There’s always concern when you see flooding in areas, especially in conditions that are not conducive to dissipating the water. It was certainly appropriate at the time and we continue to watch,” explained Jen Ford, a regional district board member, adding the alert is “just giving residents a heads up.”
She says people are advised to “use caution in the area,” and to “avoid creeks, banks, and high-flow streams” until conditions improve.
The alert covers several properties along Gates Creek Road and Pemberton Portage Road.
The district’s alert warns of the “risk of overland flooding and debris flood and potential impacts.”
“On Sunday, July 21, a sudden and high volume of water flowed from the vicinity of Place Glacier into Poole Creek, in Electoral Area C of the SLRD, causing flooding at the valley bottom and significant diversion of existing creeks and streams,” the district explained.
“An Evacuation Alert has been issued to prepare you to evacuate your premises should that be found necessary. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible before evacuation; however, you may receive limited notice due to rapidly changing conditions.”