Key Takeaways:
- Residents in Sumas, Washington, and Abbotsford, British Columbia, are dealing with the aftermath of destructive floods that occurred on December 10.
- The floods damaged nearly 3,900 homes in Washington, with 440 homes being destroyed or sustaining major damage, and the damage in Sumas is estimated at between $4 million and $5 million.
- The source of the flooding is the Nooksack River in Washington, which overflowed its banks and spilled into Abbotsford.
- Different measures to mitigate flooding have been proposed, including building a levee, setting back dikes, strengthening dikes, and creating temporary storage spaces for flood waters.
- Upper levels of government need to provide direct support and funding for infrastructure upgrades to prevent future flooding.
Introduction to the Floods
Residents in Sumas, Washington, and Abbotsford, British Columbia, are all too familiar with the devastating effects of flooding. The two cities, located on opposite sides of the Canada-U.S. border, have been hit by destructive floods twice in the past four years. The most recent flood, which occurred on December 10, was particularly severe, with flood sirens sounding across both sides of the border. The flood damaged nearly 3,900 homes in Washington, with 440 homes being destroyed or sustaining major damage. The damage in Sumas is estimated at between $4 million and $5 million.
The Cause of the Flooding
The source of the flooding is the Nooksack River in Washington, which overflowed its banks and spilled into Abbotsford. The river’s spillage is the result of immense rainfall, which caused the water level to rise and eventually overflow. The flooding has been a recurring problem for both cities, with many on the Canadian side of the border pointing fingers south for action. However, the mayor of Sumas, Bruce Bosch, has emphasized that the floods pose an existential question to his city, and that action is needed now to prevent future disasters.
Proposed Solutions
Different measures to mitigate flooding have been proposed, including building a levee, setting back dikes, strengthening dikes, and creating temporary storage spaces for flood waters. Bosch has proposed a levee at a critical spot where the water from Nooksack begins to overflow into Abbotsford. However, Satpal Singh Sidhu, Whatcom County executive and former Abbotsford resident, has said that a barrier would push the problem downstream to American cities, and would affect more people. Other options are being considered, including setting back dikes, strengthening dikes, and widening the river in key areas.
Abbotsford’s Plans
Abbotsford is considering a number of options to prevent future flooding, including putting a pump on the Sumas River, which tends to take on more water when flooding crosses the U.S. border. The city is also considering strengthening dikes, constructing new ones, creating temporary storage spaces for flood waters, and new floodways to move the water. However, Abbotsford’s mayor, Henry Siemens, has emphasized that direct support from upper levels of government is needed to make these plans a reality. Until there is a commitment on funding, it is challenging to design and implement these plans.
Government Support
The Canadian government has announced a $6 billion fund to support local infrastructure upgrades over the next decade, but it has not made any specific promises for Abbotsford. The Washington Department of Ecology, northwest division, has committed $4 million every two years to planning dike setbacks, but there is no timeline on the project. The department has said that setting back dikes further away from the river can increase the capacity of the river and reduce the chance of flooding. However, more needs to be done to provide direct support and funding for infrastructure upgrades to prevent future flooding.
Conclusion
The floods in Sumas and Abbotsford have highlighted the need for urgent action to prevent future disasters. The source of the flooding, the Nooksack River, needs to be addressed, and different measures to mitigate flooding need to be implemented. The cities need direct support and funding from upper levels of government to make these plans a reality. The residents of Sumas and Abbotsford are counting on their governments to take action and provide the necessary support to prevent future flooding.
