NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
December 20, 2025

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) continues to operate, with staff responding and working with partner agencies to address a variety of issues throughout the region. Residents are reminded to stay away from high-risk areas, such as landslides, dikes, flooded areas, swift-running rivers, and unstable waterway banks. Due to the soil saturation, expect possible erosion and debris slides. Not only are the dangers in these areas extremely high, but when residents enter these areas, it puts everyone at risk, including our first responders.

An Evacuation ORDER was issued December 19, 2025 for two properties on Chilliwack Lake Road due to a landslide hazard that is considered to pose imminent life-safety risk. The issue of the slope instability is confined to these two properties.

FVRD has been working closely with the expertise of an independent geotechnical engineering firm. The geotechnical engineering professionals are utilizing ground inspections and drone flights to inspect land instability areas across the Fraser Valley Regional District. 

Currently, the landslide and debris flow risk is very high. Intense rainfall can trigger landslides, and debris flows. Landslides will continue to be a key risk over at least the next week, even as rainfall amounts decrease. Saturated soils play a critical role in landslide risk. Water fills the spaces between soil particles, exerts outward pressure that pushes soil particles apart, and lubricates soil movement. Landslides often occur days after peak rainfall. More information about the risks of landslides can be found here.

The current weather forecast for the Chilliwack area includes minor amounts of rain with possible wet flurries. With cooler temperatures forecasted, precipitation in the middle and upper watershed elevations will fall as snow and will accumulate as snowpack. The result is lower overall flows to rivers and streams. Residents are encouraged to monitor Environment Canada for up-to-date forecasts. There are no streamflow or flood alerts at this time, and the Chilliwack River water levels are expected to continue to decline over the next several days.

The newly released, FVRD Emergency Status Map is a tool where residents are encouraged to help track damage caused by the recent atmospheric river incident. The tool is not a substitute for calling 9-1-1 and should not be used for reporting urgent or emergency incidents. Learn more about the FVRD Emergency Status Map at fvrd.ca/eoc

Areas of impact:

• Evacuation ORDER -  two properties on Chilliwack Lake Road
• View the FVRD Electoral Area E SOLE 

How to Stay Informed:

• fvrd.ca/eoc and fvrd.ca/alerts for the most up-to-date information
  • If you need assistance or wish to report a localized incident, please call the FVRD EOC Public Information Line at 778-704-0400 (if you reach our voicemail, please leave a message and staff will return your call)
  • Alertable for Emergency Community Notifications through email, SMS, and phone call notifications
  • DriveBC.ca for road conditions and route planning
  • BCHydro.com/outages for local power outage information
  • Weather.gc.ca for monitoring weather alerts, warnings, forecasts
  • PreparedBC.ca for preparedness info

Safety Reminders:  

• Emergencies Dial 9-1-1

• Dial 1-800-663-3456 for the Provincial Reporting Line (floods, landslide)
• High Winds
  • Have the potential to bring down power lines and trees, cause power outages, and create flying debris
  • A downed power line is a danger, stay back 10 metres and call 9-1-1
  • Rain and High Water Levels
    • Water can pool on roads. Never drive through flooded roads and crossings
    • Stay away from fast-moving creeks and rivers.
    • Parks, Trails, Forested Areas
      • Exercise extreme caution during changing weather conditions. For FVRD parks, please report any concerns to parks@fvrd.ca

Resources Available to Residents:

• Sandbags are available for impacted residents at the following locations. Please bring your own shovel.
• Chilliwack Lake Road - Fire Hall
• Hunter Creek Exit - Laidlaw (see map link) https://maps.app.goo.gl/N382m3Gv47uApEFQ9
• Harrison Mills - just east of the Sasquatch Inn at the intersection of Highway 7 and Chehalis FSR (see map link) https://maps.app.goo.gl/kZiM82k9D4JYsowZA

• To access Emergency Support Services, go to https://ess.gov.bc.ca/
• To stay up to date on current emergencies in B.C., go to https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/
• For information about roads, highways, and route interruptions, please see: https://www.drivebc.ca/
• To learn more about emergency preparedness and to sign up for emergency alerts, visit https://www.fvrd.ca/EN/main/services/emergency-management.html
• To sign up for emergency notifications on Alertable visit https://www.fvrd.ca/EN/main/services/emergency-management.html

Tips to Be Prepared for an Emergency:

• Pre-register for Emergency Support Services by creating a profile at https://ess.gov.bc.ca/
• Utilize the FVRD Emergency Workbook to enhance your emergency preparedness.
• Learn about the stages of an Evacuation here: https://www.fvrd.ca/EN/main/services/emergency-management/get-prepared.html
• Prepare an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag

 

The FVRD is the third most populous regional district in British Columbia and one of twenty-seven throughout the province. The FVRD delivers over 100 services to approximately 340,000 residents across a land base of 13,361 square kilometers. The FVRD’s eight electoral areas include all of the unincorporated communities on the north and south sides of the Fraser River, reaching up beyond the Nahatlatch River in the north and extending down to the U.S. border in the south. The FVRD is responsible for governance, administration and services for the eight electoral areas, each named separately by letters of the alphabet (A-H). Learn more about the FVRD at fvrd.ca.

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Media contact:

FVRD Communications

778-704-0400

EOC.COMMUNICATIONS@fvrd.ca