Skip to content

Chilliwack schools, daycares closed for third day in a row due to flooding

‘Based on ongoing threat of potential flooding, we have decided to close all schools’
27211095_web1_211115-CPL-VIDEO-HighWater-Flooding-Abbotsford-Chilliwack-flood_1
Trucks negotiate flood waters on Keith Wilson Road in Chilliwack on Nov. 15, 2021. (Nadège Henderson photo)

All schools and daycares within the Chilliwack School District will be closed for a third consecutive day Wednesday due to flooding.

The decision was announced Tuesday evening.

“Based on our analysis and the ongoing threat of potential flooding, we have decided to close all schools to students and staff (including daycares, pre-schools, and all community use) on Wednesday, Nov. 17,” superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam stated in an email to parents on Nov. 16.

“Student and staff safety is paramount. We closed all schools to students and staff the last two days, given the emergency information ascertained from the City of Chilliwack, Fraser Valley Regional District, and Drive BC Websites,” he said.

The district senior team met and reviewed all current emergency information and data regarding staff replacement given road and highway closures, he added.

“A State of Local Emergency continues for all electoral areas of the FVRD due to the current overland flooding and mudslide risk. In addition, all non-essential travel is to be avoided at this time,” Arul-pragasam said.

The district will continue to review all emergency information at the end of the day Wednesday, Nov. 17 and Thursday, Nov. 18 and make an informed decision regarding school closures by 7 p.m. on each of those days.

“Our thoughts go out to families in the community of Yarrow, who had to evacuate this afternoon. Our thoughts also go out to those impacted by flooding and staying with family, friends or at a local hotel while waiting for the floodwaters to recede. It is difficult to comprehend the impact of this storm on families across BC, and we remain hopeful for a return to some sense of normalcy soon,” he said.


 

@PhotoJennalism
jenna.hauck@theprogress.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.



Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
Read more