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District of Kent receives $2 million in atmospheric river flood relief

Recently announced aid to assist pump improvements, road repairs
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Mud and debris accumulated along the Lougheed Highway east of Agassiz during last year’s atmospheric flood. (File Photo/Jessica Peters)

The District of Kent is one of 10 communities in the province receiving a portion of $53.6 million in provincial funding to support recovery work following last year’s atmospheric river floods.

These communities also included Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), Hope, Merritt, Mission, Princeton and Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

The District of Kent will receive $2.355 million to be used toward flood recovery costs not already covered by other assistant programs. Repairs include raising Kamp Road, pump station and flood gate improvements and plans for flood mapping. The FVRD receives $1.625 million to help with ongoing debris cleanup, stabilizing river and stream banks and repairing damaged infrastructure.

RELATED: Armed Forces confirms more than 300 rescued from Agassiz area landslides, floods

“The floods and landslides that hit us in the Fraser Valley in November turned many people’s lives upside down,” stated Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon. “Building back better from these floods is a priority we share with the local governments in Kent and Chilliwack.”

This funding is in addition to $2.1 billion the provincial budget provides to assist in wildfire and flood recovery in addition to helping build additional protection against future climate disasters.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, in Agassiz, 101 more millimetres of rain fell in November 2021 – during the atmospheric floods – than in January, February, March and the first half of April combined; the year-to-date total as of April 15 is about 509 millimetres.

RELATED: ‘Disaster in the Valley’ talk will focus on effects of atmospheric river storms

Even as the community was hit hard in some places by the relentless rain during the atmospheric river, Agassiz-Harrison found itself in the middle of two major landslides that stranded motorists along Highway 7.

Volunteers from both communities were quick to assist the affected families, filling the Agassiz Agricultural Hall with donations and offers to help while emergency crews worked to clear the road, get the stranded to safety and get the vehicles to their rightful owners.

More than 300 people and several animals were rescued along the Lougheed Highway.


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