British Columbia Disaster

[cygnus]

The planet of the very poor, reliant on food stamps.

Who also tend not to have a lot of cash to panic buy large quantities of food and supplies, so they aren't the problem here.

 

[PeterG]

The planet of the very poor, reliant on food stamps.

I didn't know food stamps existed here in British Columbia. I thought did stamps were a U.S. thing.

But if that were my situation, I would become a wizard with coupons. And fill up all my cupboards with cheap stuff. Which is how I did live at one point to a lesser degree than others, I am sure.

 

[wickedwitch]

I didn't know food stamps existed here in British Columbia. I thought did stamps were a U.S. thing.

But if that were my situation, I would become a wizard with coupons. And fill up all my cupboards with cheap stuff. Which is how I did live at one point to a lesser degree than others, I am sure.

Except on food stamps, you often can't wait for a coupon or don't have enough money to stock up. You have enough money for that week.

 

[manhn]

It's not the poor who are hoard shopping.

 

[LadyM76]

Whatcom County just across the border had pretty severe flooding as well. They canceled school on Monday and Tuesday in Bellingham, and I think some of the county schools are still closed. At least one person died during the flooding. The pictures and video make me sad, so many people lost everything.

 

[Judy]

Whatcom County just across the border had pretty severe flooding as well. They canceled school on Monday and Tuesday in Bellingham, and I think some of the county schools are still closed. At least one person died during the flooding. The pictures and video make me sad, so many people lost everything.

Devastating. ?

A look at flooding all around Whatcom County, Washington

Aerial footage of flooding in Sumas, Ferndale, Everson and a washout of SR-9 near Cedarville

www.youtube.com

 

[overedge]

In Sumas - the US town directly south of Abbotsford, not Sumas Prairie in Canada - the water was up to the second-story windows of the buildings on the main street. Sumas has really struggled economically in the past decade or so, and they really didn't need this

 

[manhn]

BC instituted a 30l limit during a gas stop. I would have to have an almost empty tank to reach that limit but I am sure it will hit the gas guzzlers. So glad I filled up my tank last night. I am reconsidering going farther away tomorrow to explore my new area more.

 

[made_in_canada]

BC instituted a 30l limit during a gas stop. I would have to have an almost empty tank to reach that limit but I am sure it will hit the gas guzzlers. So glad I filled up my tank last night. I am reconsidering going farther away tomorrow to explore my new area more.

I read that it was just the lower mainland, Hope, Sea to Sky corridor, Sunshine Coast, and Vancouver Island.

 

[manhn]

Oh, not paying attention. I wonder why the other parts of BC aren’t under the same restrictions

 

[made_in_canada]

Oh, not paying attention. I wonder why the other parts of BC aren’t under the same restrictions

I assume it's a shipping issue that's leading to shortages ?‍

 

[kalamalka]

The lineups for gas in Victoria have been ridiculous the last couple of days, and very disruptive to other traffic. Most of those people probably didn't really need gas anyway.

The problem here is that all gasoline comes to the island in tanker trucks, then down from Nanaimo on the Malahat highway, which was closed by a washout, then closed overnight for a couple of days, with single lane alternating when open. They brought a convoy of tanker trucks down yesterday morning.

The bigger problem affecting the lower mainland as well as the island is damage to the Trans-Mountain pipeline, apparently in the section that runs near the Coquihalla. Anybody east of that doesn't have a supply problem.

My tank is low, but I don't use much gas, and should be OK until the lineups ease.

 

[kalamalka]

Should have said - once you get into the interior proper, trucks can come in from Alberta as well - and trains, for some stuff. It's the severing of all the routes to or from the south coast/lower mainland that's the big problem. (The Globe and Mail had an editorial today pointing out that the Port of Vancouver is the biggest in the country by a factor of 4)

 

[PeterG]

640,000 Animals Have Died In British Columbia Floods

Livestock death toll from B.C. flooding: 628,000 poultry, 12,000 hogs, 420 cows

With recovery efforts underway in flood-stricken parts of British Columbia, officials are getting an idea of the massive impact the extreme weather had on the province's livestock.

bc.ctvnews.ca

And that number will likely grow:

There are still more than 800 farms under evacuation, so officials believe the death toll will likely change as residents and operators return.

I did see stories on the local news of people moving cows and dogs by boat. And in the interior of British Columbia, a horse was rescued by helicopter. And one farmer took his calves into his home for days on end (when it became "quite stinky").

But am I naive to think there should have been at least SOME kind of disaster plan for dealing with animals? How many of them drowned while being caged or locked up? Shouldn't in the case of a disaster, every animal be set free and at least be given a chance to escape death by drowning?

628,000 poultry died. Could they survive by flying to building rooftops...can they swim on water like ducks?

110 beehives were destroyed. This area is a lake that was drained 100 years ago. Couldn't the beehives been placed on an elevated stand in the case of a flood?

Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[skatingguy]

628,000 poultry died. Could they survive by flying to building rooftops...can they swim on water like ducks?

110 beehives were destroyed. This area is a lake that was drained 100 years ago. Couldn't the beehives been placed on an elevated stand in the case of a flood?

Ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Keep in mind how quickly the water came up, plus chickens raised as farm animals can't fly more than a couple feet, and they'd starve without regular food. Not sure about the beehives, but the fact that all these farms were built in a drained lake that lacked proper flood protections speaks to the folly of human endeavours particularly when it involves trying to work against nature.

 

[Judy]

I know that my sister in law (previous to the disaster) was planning a trip in February to meet up with her daughter (my niece) in Feb in Whistler. I don’t really want to ask them directly yet but is that doable? My niece lives in Victoria.

Yeah the farms .. heartbreaking.

 

[Japanfan]

But am I naive to think there should have been at least SOME kind of disaster plan for dealing with animals? How many of them drowned while being caged or locked up? Shouldn't in the case of a disaster, every animal be set free and at least be given a chance to escape death by drowning?

There probably wasn't, unfortunately.

That was one of the lessons of Hurricane Katrina according to previous American Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle in his book "The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Protect Them". A highly recommended book!

But I have doubt that animals have since been included in disaster planning, unfortunately.

I'm not sure about setting animals free to give them a chance to escape - it seems like a sound idea, but some animals might not leave their quarters/stables.

 

[JasperBoy]

I know that my sister in law (previous to the disaster) was planning a trip in February to meet up with her daughter (my niece) in Feb in Whistler. I don’t really want to ask them directly yet but is that doable? My niece lives in Victoria.

Yeah the farms .. heartbreaking.

Victoria has not been hit very hard by the recent storms. The issue in February will be the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Squamish and on to Whistler. Travel there can become difficult at any time because of weather and slides.

 

[Judy]

Victoria has not been hit very hard by the recent storms. The issue in February will be the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Squamish and on to Whistler. Travel there can become difficult at any time because of weather and slides.

Yeah they may change their plans. I'll ask my niece's mom at Christmas. Thanks for the info.