Nicole Hancock
Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony ...

Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.

Indigenous community hosts full moon ceremony to heal Chedoke Creek

evacuation

Hudson Valley Flood Emergency Triggers Rescues; Woman Drowns In Orange County, New York

Hudson Valley Flood Emergency Triggers Rescues; Woman Drowns In Orange County, New York

A​n estimated half-foot of rainfall or more inundated areas of New York's Lower Hudson Valley region on Sunday, washing out roads and overwhelming vehicles to the point that drivers needed to be rescued. O​ne death has been blamed on the flooding. In Orange County, New York, a woman drowned while trying to evacuate her home, according to the Associated Press. "​Her house was completely surrounded by water," Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus told the AP. He added: "She was trying to get through (the flooding) with her dog, and she was overwhelmed by tidal-wave type waves."

Calgary hikers faced waist-high water as flooded N.S. park evacuated

Calgary hikers faced waist-high water as flooded N.S. park evacuated

A couple from Calgary say they're still drying out after being evacuated from a Nova Scotia park this week. Carala and Terence Jellema are experienced backcountry hikers who said they were visiting Cape Chignecto Provincial Park this week for their first time. They had a five-day hike planned and started Sunday. The couple said they pushed through waist-high water Monday, fast-moving rivers and log jams on the way to the cabin they had rented. 

Evacuation orders issued for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., due to flash flooding

Evacuation orders issued for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., due to flash flooding

Flash flooding evacuation orders are in effect for two regions in Woodlands County, Alta., about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, due to rising waters on the Athabasca River which is causing overland flooding. The order is in effect for residents in the Township Road 620A area along the Athabasca River, east of the hamlet of Fort Assiniboine and for the Flats Road area along the river. The orders came into effect Wednesday evening and require all residents to evacuate the area immediately. Rising waters are causing flooding and washing out roads and people have been advised to drive with caution and avoid impacted roads.

Alberta floods: 10 years later

Alberta floods: 10 years later

It’s been 10 years since the historic floods of southern Alberta that were deadly, expensive and resulted in the first ever declaration of a State of Provincial Emergency in Canadian history. Over 100,000 people were evacuated from their homes in communities throughout southern Alberta and five people lost their lives. There was more than $5 billion dollars in damages and 55,000 square kilometres of land was directly impacted by the floods; an area nearly 70 times the size of Calgary.

'Here we are again': Flood warning returns for Klondike River, evacuation underway

'Here we are again': Flood warning returns for Klondike River, evacuation underway

A tactical evacuation is underway once again in the Rock Creek area near Dawson City, Yukon, as the Klondike River continues to run dangerously high. Officials have issued another flood warning for the area, a little more than a week after an earlier warning was downgraded to a flood watch. A tactical evacuation means that residents are advised to leave the area, but are not under an evacuation order.

1 home destroyed as flood risk prompts more evacuation orders in Cache Creek, B.C.: fire chief

1 home destroyed as flood risk prompts more evacuation orders in Cache Creek, B.C.: fire chief

Flooding in B.C.'s Interior has destroyed one home and forced several others to be evacuated, according to the local fire chief.  Evacuation orders are now in place for five properties — including the local firehall — in the Village of Cache Creek, B.C., where a local state of emergency was declared on May 1 as the nearby creek and river threatened homes in the area and posed an "imminent threat to people and property."

Swift Current, Sask., remains in state of emergency due to flooding from creek

Swift Current, Sask., remains in state of emergency due to flooding from creek

Swift Current, Sask., has been experiencing flooding over the last few days due to the spring melt, so much so that the city called an official state of emergency at 5 p.m. CST Tuesday night. As of 4 p.m. CST Wednesday, the city remained under that state of emergency, as water levels continued to be high. The city said the decision to declare the emergency was meant as a proactive measure, as there is the potential of increased spring water run-off. The city said the source of the flooding is the Swift Current Creek.

Mom who fled with baby after toxic derailment wants officials to 'drink the water' in Ohio town

Mom who fled with baby after toxic derailment wants officials to 'drink the water' in Ohio town

A couple with an infant son who fled their home after a toxic train derailment in Ohio earlier this month are not convinced it's safe to return home, despite what state officials have said. The Feb. 3 derailment prompted officials to evacuate hundreds of people from their homes in the town of East Palestine amid fears that a hazardous, highly flammable material might ignite. 

Evacuees from Grassy Narrows First Nation arrive in Thunder Bay following spring floods

Evacuees from Grassy Narrows First Nation arrive in Thunder Bay following spring floods

About 100 Grassy Narrows First Nation residents have arrived in Thunder Bay, Ont., after the community was partially evacuated due to flooding. They arrived in Thunder Bay, which is about 400 kilometres southeast from Grassy Narrows, on Monday. Grassy Narrows Chief Randy Fobister said the evacuees from his community are all vulnerable people, including those with health issues and elders.

K'atl'odeeche First Nation welcomes members home as flooding cleanup continues

K'atl'odeeche First Nation welcomes members home as flooding cleanup continues

In some areas of the K'atl'odeeche First Nation reserve, pavement is caving in and buildings are leaning against power poles — but volunteers are getting as much cleaned up on Tuesday morning as they can. Tuesday afternoon, the First Nation in N.W.T. says members can return to their homes. Most of K'atl'odeeche's residents have been displaced since last Wednesday night, when floodwaters from the Hay River surged into the reserve and the town of Hay River and forced the evacuation of both areas.

Flooding hits parts of southern Manitoba as region sees above-normal increase in precipitation

Flooding hits parts of southern Manitoba as region sees above-normal increase in precipitation

As southern Manitoba saw a deluge of rain this weekend that forced people in several communities from their homes due to flooding, the province said the region saw four to six times the normal amount of precipitation this spring. Southern and southeastern Manitoba, along with the portion of the Red River basin in the United States, have received 120 to 160 millimetres of snow and rain since April 1 — which is between 400 to 600 per cent of normal, the province said in a flood bulletin on Sunday evening. The same region received a basin-wide average of 40 to 50 millimetres of rainfall over the past 48 hours alone, according to the province.

Members of Shackan Indian Band to return home more than 90 days after flooding

Members of Shackan Indian Band to return home more than 90 days after flooding

Members of a First Nation in British Columbia who were forced from their home more than 90 days ago when a nearby river changed course during catastrophic floods are now allowed to return. Chief Arnie Lampreau of the Shackan Indian Band said he never expected community members would be off their reserve in the Nicola Valley for so long. "They're excited to come home,'' he said in an interview.

Yukon family displaced by historic floods back at home in time for Christmas

Yukon family displaced by historic floods back at home in time for Christmas

Florian Lemphers is unpacking his moving boxes at the same time as his Christmas gifts this year. Lemphers, his wife Andrea and their two dogs, canoed out of their front yard in Shallow Bay, Yukon, on July 13, after water from the usually-distant bay breached the berm set up to protect their home. Volunteers came from all over the territory to set up sandbags to try to keep the water at bay — but still, they were forced to leave and stay out for months.

IN PHOTOS: 12 notable Canadian stories in 2021

IN PHOTOS: 12 notable Canadian stories in 2021

On Oct. 12, due to concerns about fuel contamination, Iqaluit issued a do-not-consume order for its tap water that lasted nearly two months. The city of 8,000 would eventually point to an underground fuel spill as the potential cause of the contamination. After learning that the city's water was not safe to drink, residents in Iqaluit collected water from the nearby Sylvia Grinnell River. The military was dispatched to help provide treated water from the river using mobile water treatment units.

Province warns next 10 days could be 'quite challenging' as more storms set to hit B.C.

Province warns next 10 days could be 'quite challenging' as more storms set to hit B.C.

British Columbia is bracing for more rainfall in the coming days and weeks as the province works to rebuild after unprecedented precipitation earlier this month. Up to 80 millimetres of rain is forecast for Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Fraser Valley, starting this morning and continuing until Friday. Strong southeast winds near the water are also predicted as part of this weather system, and freezing levels will rise above mountain tops, which could trigger snowmelt and worsen the flooding situation.

Cost of damage from B.C. flooding could be 'catastrophic,' expert says

Cost of damage from B.C. flooding could be 'catastrophic,' expert says

"We are considering this to be a catastrophic loss," Rob de Pruis, director of consumer and industry relations at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, told CTV National News. Floods in both Toronto and Calgary in 2013 prompted the Canadian insurance industry to offer what it called "overland flood coverage" starting in 2015. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates about 50 per cent of B.C. property owners have purchased it. "We do know and we have received reports of overland flood damage, sewer backups, even wind damage," de Pruis told CTV News Vancouver. "If you have been evacuated and you do have the overland flood coverage, you also have coverage for your additional living expenses."

‘The power of water is crazy’: Residents across southern B.C. left displaced — and devastated — in wake of storm

‘The power of water is crazy’: Residents across southern B.C. left displaced — and devastated — in wake of storm

In the wake of historic atmospheric river rains that have flooded much of southern B.C., thousands of people have been left displaced, disconnected, and struggling with what to do next.

First fires, now floods: Why B.C. is caught in a horrific dance between climate extremes

First fires, now floods: Why B.C. is caught in a horrific dance between climate extremes

As a month’s worth of rain poured down over 48 hours, the rushing Coldwater River was one of many that breached its muddy banks Monday and filled up the streets of surrounding communities in southern British Columbia as though they were part of a stoppered bathtub. There were RVs collapsed and half submerged by the water. There were school playgrounds, turned to pools. In Merritt, B.C., as she worked to help drag stuck cars and trucks, Carly Isaac sent photographs to the Star with a comment. “Global warming.” She and the town’s roughly 7,000 residents would later receive the order to flee to either Kamloops or Kelowna, each over an hour away.

Town of Princeton swamped after floodwaters breach dike

Town of Princeton swamped after floodwaters breach dike

The mayor of Princeton, B.C., says half the town is under water after extreme rains pushed the Tulameen and Similkameen rivers to overflow their banks and dikes. "The water level came up so fast that we couldn't get ahead of it. It just kept coming and coming," said Spencer Coyne. "There's a number of [dike] breaches. Houses are under water, cars are gone." Coyne said water levels were about 150 centimetres higher than the previous worst flood in memory, which hit the town in 1995.

Entire city of Merritt, B.C., ordered to evacuate after flooding of wastewater treatment plant

Entire city of Merritt, B.C., ordered to evacuate after flooding of wastewater treatment plant

The entire city of Merritt, population 7,000, is under an evacuation order after flooding caused the complete failure of the municipality's wastewater treatment plant leading to what city officials are calling an "immediate danger to public health and safety." "Continued habitation of the community without sanitary services presents risk of mass sewage back-up and personal health risk," reads the order issued by the city at 10:05 a.m. PT Monday. "The wastewater treatment plant is inundated and non-operational and will be for an indefinite period of time," said the order, which asked residents to try to make plans to stay with friends or family outside the community, which is located in B.C.'s southern Interior, around 200 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

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