Dramatic photos and videos show nature's force in North Vancouver flash flood
The clean-up process is well underway in North Vancouver’s Lynn Valley neighbourhood following last night’s flash flood and rockfalls.
Last night, heavy rainfall caused Hastings Creek and culverts to overflow, turning Fromme and Croft roads into rapid rivers. About 15 homes were damaged by flood waters when water poured into basements, and residents of more than 20 homes were evacuated at the peak of the incident.
Video below shows residents using rocks, mud and even boards to divert water from entering their property. Emergency officials promptly deployed heavy machinery and crews to clear creeks and redirect the flow of water away from homes.
Argyle Secondary School was flooded when water streamed through the entrances of the building. The school was closed today as a safety precaution and to allow for maintenance crews to clean-up and assess the full extent of the damage.
Heavy rainfall also sent large boulders tumbling down hillsides onto roads near the flood.
About 86 mm of rain pummelled the North Shore over a 24 period ending early Tuesday morning. There were reports of localized flooding across the Metro Vancouver region at low-lying areas, where grounds were already saturated with water, and blocked drains.
Such events in the North Shore mountains are rare, particularly during the winter season when there is usually a snowpack at higher elevations. The seasonal snow acts as a sponge for water during wintertime torrential rainfall, which decreases the volume of runoff down the mountains.
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Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Image: Andrew Chobaniuk
Front entrance to school @CKNW pic.twitter.com/3KGHjV5XMx
— Shelby Thom (@ShelbyThom980) November 4, 2014
@CKNW @GlobalBC #bcedu #lynnvalley #northvan Water rushing into Argyle. pic.twitter.com/W3U9RZ5cOm
— Shane Nelson (@NorthShoreShane) November 4, 2014
Flooding hits along Fromme Road near Hastings Creek: http://t.co/8Q9tFAvN2G #cbc #NorthVancouver pic.twitter.com/h2SdMACkhF
— CBC British Columbia (@cbcnewsbc) November 4, 2014
Water is now pooling into Argyle Secondary @CKNW pic.twitter.com/EVqFtmYozl
— Shelby Thom (@ShelbyThom980) November 4, 2014
Feature Image: BCNewsVideo via YouTube
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