Boundary Bay seawall collapses, state of emergency declared for possible flood in Delta
Delta’s municipal government has declared a local state of emergency following the collapse of a seawall on Seaview Road in Boundary Bay.
A 70-foot section of the seawall within private residential property collapsed Tuesday morning when ocean swells from the rain and wind storm slammed the structure that was supposed to seal the residence. Municipal crews worked frantically throughout the day during the break between storms to build a temporary berm in place of the collapsed beach wall.
Residents in approximately 400 homes within the vicinity have been advised of an elevated flood risk during Wednesday morning’s high tide at 9 a.m. The residence where the seawall collapsed was evacuated as a much-needed precaution.
According to a statement by municipal officials, there is a “strong possibility” ocean water from the storm surge and high winds coinciding with high tides could overtop the berm and other sections of the seawall. George Harvie of Delta’s engineering department also told News 1130 the force of the ocean could easily move the lockblocks that form the temporary berm.
The local state of emergency in Delta will remain until December 15 given further forecasts of approaching storms and the expected high tides. Environment Canada’s rainfall warning has been extended to Wednesday: its forecast calls for up to 50 mm of rainfall and winds reaching 70 km/h from this week’s third potent frontal system.
Across the region in Vancouver, municipal crews have sandbagged a 200-metre stretch of a low-lying area at Locarno Beach to prevent homes on Northwest Marine Drive near Sasamat Street from flooding. In 2012, a king tide combined with a storm surge caused the beach and the concession stand to flood.
UPDATE: temp fix of collapsed Boundary Bay seawall, 9am storm surge w high tide a big concern http://t.co/DkAie6xDIM @CTVVancouver
— Penny Daflos (@PennyDaflos) December 10, 2014
#Tsawwassen storm surge protection floats away pic.twitter.com/4XiKR1ftAZ
— Eileen Reppenhagen (@TaxDetective) December 10, 2014
Collapsed seawall in Tsawwassen. Home evacuated. #bcstorm #cbc pic.twitter.com/qloWa1k4yJ — Kirk Williams (@CBCKirkWilliams) December 9, 2014
Feature Image: Eileen Reppenhagen via Twitter
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