NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
December 17, 2025

The 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, and flooded areas. 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. The FVRD would like to remind residents to stay safe and take precautions during this time. Please stay away from swift-running rivers and unstable banks. Due to the soil saturation, expect possible erosion and debris slides. More information about the risks of landslides can be found here.

Areas of impact:

• Evacuation  ALERT – Sheldon Road
• Evacuation ORDER and ALERT - Wilson Road
• View the FVRD Electoral Area E SOLE  

Highlight of works:

• The FVRD Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been operational since Wednesday, December 10 and remains open
  • The EOC staff have been actively reacting, monitoring and addressing concerns as they arise
  • FVRD staff continue to track weather and the river forecast for the region
  • The FVRD has Geotech professionals who are utilizing ground inspections and drone flights to inspect land instability areas across the region. 

• Emergency works have taken place
  • On Wilson Road in the Evacuation ORDER area, emergency work is now complete.
    • A temporary flood barrier known as a HESCO wall was built in a low section of land to protect properties from the Chilliwack River.
    • On Sheldon Road in the Evacuation ALERT area, emergency works was completed on Monday.
      • Another temporary flood barrier (HESCO wall) and a Riprap groyn which is a rock structure in water that disrupts the water flow that is against a bank, was installed.
      • This work protected 10 homes in the neighbourhood which is currently under an Evacuation ALERT and the work most likely has prevented the neighbourhood from going into an Evacuation ORDER area.
      • All of this emergency work was funded through approved provincial emergency work funding. 

This emergency work was completed within tight timelines and extraordinary weather conditions. The FVRD is appreciative for the quick actions taken by our contractors who completed the emergency work. Additionally, we extend our appreciation to our provincial partners, the RCMP, First Responders, volunteers, and residents. The FVRD has a large landscape to cover and we are unable to have eyes everywhere. With the assistance of knowledgeable area residents who share key information on critical issues that their community is experiencing is helpful to the FVRD. 

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
  • 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

604-702-5000

EOC.COMMUNICATIONS@fvrd.ca