Think of your neighbors: Officials call for calm as state of emergency declared

Catastrophic flooding, mudslides, and a crippled transportation network has forced the British Columbia government to declare a state of emergency.

This will allow travel restrictions and other measures to be put in place to protect critical infrastructure, supply chains and access to essential goods.

“Please do not hoard items. What you need, your neighbors need as well,” Premier John Horgan told an early afternoon press conference. “We are confident we can restore our supply chains in a quick and orderly manner provided we all act as we have been acting over the past two years.”

Every major route between the Interior and Lower Mainland, including rail lines, were cut off when an atmospheric river swamped the province Sunday. Thousands remain forced from their homes as rivers crested to historic highs, devastating low lying communities, and washing out roadways and bridges along Highways 1, 3, and 5.

A working group of cabinet has been established that Horgan said will create a cross-government response to the disaster and come up with solutions that best serve British Columbians.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the declaration will help ensure the extraordinary measures needed to move forward can occur unimpeded.

While travel restrictions have not yet been brought in, both the minister and premier were adamant in their demands for British Columbians to stay off the road except for essential travel.

“This a catastrophic event, and we need to work to get through it together,” Farnworth said.

Store shelves in many areas of the province, including Kelowna, are picked bare as shoppers give into fear and panic buy. Farnworth urged British Columbians to remain calm as transport routes between the Interior and northern parts of the province remain open, as do connections to Alberta.

“The retail council and the trucking industry have already said and been really clear; there is lots of supply,” he said. “People need do the right thing and be patient. The goods are going to get to where they need to get to.”

He said the government is working closely with industry to ensure goods can flow, maintaining the top priority at this time remains finding a path between Hope and the Interior.

Highway 3 is anticipated to be the most likely route to open first. No updated timeline for when that could reopen was provided. Paths via the United States are also being discussed.

When roads do open, Transport Minister Rob Fleming said priority will be given to emergency personnel and transport trucks.

Fleming is confident Highway 3 can handle the surge in cargo capacity, even though congestion, alternating traffic patterns, and varying speed limits, are a given.

He said the two main rail lines were also making ‘good progress’ on repairing damaged infrastructure.