Supply chain stabilizes but more storms coming

• Destructive storms 'not anything near normal'
• U.S. offers further exemptions to B.C. truckers
• Okanagan expected to avoid new deluges

British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety said the province is working through ‘a monumental task’ as it tries to rebound from the havoc caused by floods 11 days ago, all while bracing for another series of storms over the coming week.

Speaking at a media conference Wednesday afternoon, Mike Farnworth said B.C. was already grappling with some of the most destructive weather its ever seen.

“Having several destructive storms in a row is not anything near normal,” he said. “We’ve had almost a dozen atmospheric rivers since mid-September. The ground is already saturated which means even a routine storm for this time of year can cause rivers and streams to rise faster and potentially flood.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, weather modelling predicted the worst weather to be along B.C.’s coast, but the Fraser Valley, already inundated with flood water, will face another bout of heavy rain with more flooding possible.

The Okanagan is not expecting severe rainfall, although to the north, a winter storm warning was in place for the Trans-Canada Highway, from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, bringing up to 40 cm of snow through Friday.

Against the backdrop of more severe weather in the western parts of the province, Transport Minister Rob Fleming said the picture regarding the movement of essential produce and goods from the Lower Mainland to the Interior continued to look better.

U.S. working with B.C.

Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley between Chilliwack and Abbotsford is expected to open Thursday.

Also, the United States has further relaxed certain permitting requirements to B.C. truckers going through Washington state to circumvent limited access parts of damaged highways, including Highway 3.

“I’m pleased to say the United States has added more exemptions to their list as of today,” Fleming said. “This allows even more essential goods and products on alternate routes… to reconnect to the rest of our province.”

Fleming said Canadian Pacific Railway started its operations through the province Tuesday night and Canadian National would have its trains operational by Thursday, "a huge help for B.C. and the rest of Canada."

More milk

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said there were clear signs of produce returning to stores including milk supply in smaller communities.

“Our food supply chain continues to be stable,” Popham said. “I want to assure British Columbians that there are truckloads of food that continue to pour into B.C. and those shelves are being stocked. We believe at this point we’re back operating at about 80 per cent of normal with milk deliveries.”