The latest news on mudslides and flooding in British Columbia for Nov. 17, 2021

The latest news on mudslides and flooding in British Columbia (all times eastern):

1 p.m.

Defence Minister Anita Anand says Canadian Forces personnel will be ready to help B.C. residents affected by floods, landslides and extreme weather.

A Department of National Defence statement says planning and preparation are underway.

It says the department is examining how the Canadian Armed Forces could provide logistical and general support, including transportation assistance, supporting supply chains and humanitarian help.

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12:30 p.m.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is connecting with local authorities and the B.C. government to learn more about the ongoing situation and maintaining supply chain routes after major highways in and out of the province were severed.

Trudeau says he spoke with Premier John Horgan and a number of mayors last night about how people are doing in this “terrifically bad situation.”

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11:50 a.m.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun says he’s feeling much better today about flooding conditions in his city after a dire situation overnight.

A key pumping station was in danger of being overwhelmed and it was the only thing holding back river waters from overrunning Sumas Prairie.

Crews sandbagged overnight around the Barrowtown Pump Station allowing it to continue operation.

An evacuation order was issued Tuesday for more than 1,000 properties on the prairie, but Fire Chief Darren Lee says they completed about 180 rescues into Wednesday morning, pulling trapped residents from their flooded properties.

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10:40 a.m.

Emergency officials in Abbotsford, B.C., are trying to put out a large fire at an RV dealership.

About 100 RVs parked tightly together are on fire and there are 40 firefighters battling the blaze.

Officials say the fire is under some high-voltage power lines, creating added danger.

Residents in the area are being told to keep their windows and doors closed.

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10:23 a.m.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the federal government is sending Canadian Forces personnel to help with evacuation efforts in B.C.

A social media message from Blair says a deployment has been approved.

The message says air personnel will also help to support supply chain routes, and protect residents against further flooding or landslides.

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9 a.m.

Officials in Abbotsford, B.C., will hold another news conference this morning as they urge all residents of the low-lying Sumas Prairie region to get out immediately.

The area, south of Abbotsford, was ordered evacuated Tuesday as high water from neighbouring Washington state pushed the Sumas River over its banks, but the urgency of the evacuation leaped overnight as those waters now threaten a vital pumping station.

Officials say the Barrowtown station keeps water out of what was once Sumas Lake but they say the lake will refill if the station stops pumping and that water from the nearby Fraser River will also begin gushing in.

Mayor Henry Braun says there is a significant risk to life and that everyone in the rural agricultural area must leave because “people’s lives are more important right now than livestock and chickens.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2021.

The Canadian Press