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UPDATE: Katzie First Nation seeks sandbagging volunteers in 91原创, Pitt Meadows and Surrey

Flood water seeping in from both the Fraser River and Yorkson Creek

Update, May 17: Members of the Katzie First Nation are still looking for volunteers to help with sandbagging. Crews will be at 20546 Allard Cres. until 9 p.m. tonight. Call the Katzie First Nation at 604-465-8961 for more info.

Original story:

With the Township of 91原创 issuing an evacuation alert to unprotected areas of Northwest 91原创 yesterday, members of the Katzie First Nation are now working to get ahead of the flood water as quickly as possible.

Volunteers will be stacking 18,000 sandbags along the west end of Allard Crescent in 91原创 today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and co-ordinating emergency efforts for residents on Barnston Island, who received an evacuation alert this morning, as well as Pitt Meadows.

鈥淲e are sending crews of volunteers over to begin our flood preparedness and we do have some lower lying properties,鈥 said Chief Grace Cunningham of the Katzie First Nation.

鈥淎nd of course, Yorkson Creek comes through the back, so they鈥檙e having issues with flood waters coming in from the back, and also they鈥檙e getting it from the front (along the Fraser River).鈥

More volunteers are needed, along with donations of food and water for those doing the sandbagging. Those who are not physically able to work, can help with other co-ordinating efforts as well, Cunningham added.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just asking that if people come forward to volunteer, it would be a great help to bring their own gear, their own shovels and their own gloves,鈥 she said.

鈥淲e will be providing support by way of meals at lunch and at the end of the day. It鈥檚 kind of hard to predict what that鈥檚 going to look like. We鈥檙e doing our best to deal with the emergency and then also take care of the people coming forward. We鈥檙e trying to cover both to the best of our ability, it鈥檚 a bit challenging.鈥

READ MORE:

The Katzie First Nation is currently working with Emergency BC, and has created an emergency operation centre in Pitt Meadows to support its communities.

鈥淲e鈥檙e managing three different parts of our community and each community has different issues,鈥 Cunningham said.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e working with Metro Vancouver for Barnston Island, we鈥檙e working with Pitt Meadows Emergency from their city, and we鈥檙e working with Ginger Sherlock from the (91原创 Emergency Program). So we鈥檝e pulled in as many resources as we can to best support us, and make sure that we鈥檙e contacting the proper supports in all areas.鈥



miranda@langleytimes.com

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Helped out by Tony Florence (seated) James Evans fills sandbags in north 91原创 after unprotected areas of the Township were placed under flood alert this week. Miranda Gathercole 91原创 Times
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Helped out by Tony Florence (seated) James Evans fills sandbags in north 91原创 after unprotected areas of the Township were placed under flood alert this week. Miranda Gathercole 91原创 Times