As a powerful storm moves into B.C.’s South Coast, residents in Lions Bay are preparing for another round of heavy rain as the threat of flooding, landslides and power outages weighs on a community that knows firsthand how devastating severe weather can be. Environment Canada has issued orange rainfall warnings for parts of west and central Vancouver Island, Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Some areas could see more than 250 millimetres of rain, with more than 160 millimetres possible in the Sea-to-Sky and up to 120 millimetres in Metro Vancouver. Strong winds are also expected, with the heaviest weather forecast through Wednesday. Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor says the combination of intense rainfall, saturated ground and weakened trees could create dangerous conditions. Among the biggest concerns are trees falling onto power lines, blocked culverts, washouts and flooding. Proctor says drought-stressed trees may have weakened roots, while dry soils can struggle to absorb large amounts of rainfall, increasing runoff. A community preparing together In Lions Bay, the threat of another landslide is never far from people’s minds. The community was devastated by a deadly landslide nearly a year ago, an event that remains fresh in residents’ memories. Ross Blackwell, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, says landslides remain a major concern, particularly because some potential hazards originate on Crown land outside the municipality’s jurisdiction. Municipal public works crews have been preparing ahead of the storm, including carrying out drainage work. Blackwell is also urging residents to do their part by clearing gutters, watching how water flows around their properties and reporting blocked culverts. He says staying vigilant is essential. At the Lions Bay General Store, owner Lynne Jacobs is also making sure the community is ready. The store has two generators in case the power goes out, and shelves are stocked with essentials including milk, bread and other supplies. While CTV News was editing its television story, the power briefly went out inside the store; a small but timely reminder of what could happen as the storm moves in. Jacobs says the store has played an important role during previous emergencies. When the landslide left people stranded in the community, the store became one of the only places where they could access Wi-Fi. Staff kept the coffee on and helped look after those who were stuck. The store also checks in on older residents, with staff keeping an eye out for anyone they haven’t seen in a while. Jacobs says the community has learned to look out for one another. “We keep moving on. We keep going, and it’s a strong community. It’s a very strong community,” she said. More rain on the way The River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches for much of Vancouver Island and the South Coast. Officials are urging people to stay informed, limit unnecessary travel during intense rainfall and check DriveBC for changing road conditions. In Vancouver, additional shelter spaces will open Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Wednesday, Nov. 11, in response to the extreme weather alert.
