Skip to content

Mayor Peter Robb says Hope avoided major infrastructure failures

In a statement posted online, Robb thanked residents and said Hope is now in the recovery phase
27235304_web1_coquihalla-collapse-1
While Mayor Peter Robb says Hope avoided major infrastructure damage, photos from the transportation ministry show the Coquihalla collapse roughly halfway between Hope and Merritt. (BC Transportation)

Hope Mayor Peter Robb says the town has emerged from the flooding and landslides in relatively good shape.

Robb posted a statement on the District of Hope website Thursday afternoon (Nov. 18).

“We are not in a dire situation,” he said. “Despite some road and water course erosion, seepage, and overland flooding in low level areas, there were no major infrastructure failures.”

Robb said the town is now in the recovery stage and he is thankful Hope did not have to declare a state of emergency or order evacuations.

“We are working diligently and effectively with the federal and provincial governments, along with community organizations to get back to normal and establish travel back into and out of Hope,” Robb noted. “It is highly evident that other hard-hit communities need provincial and other resources more than we do.”

Robb credited the community for stepping up to help travelers in need. More than 1,000 people were stranded in Hope by road closures.

RELATED: Travelers stranded in Sunshine Valley joining convoy heading for Hope

RELATED: Rainfall brings re-flooding to areas of Abbotsford, sparking plea from police

“I’m very proud of how many members of our community stepped up to help us in so many ways,” he said. “From housing, feeding, and giving comfort to over 1,200 unexpected guests, you made all the difference.

“A very special thanks needs to be made to those who opened up their homes, volunteered their time to attend and work at the reception centres, and donated items like bedding, food, etc. We should all be very proud of their community spirit and concern for the public good. However, support continues to be needed as we still have a significant number of guests who cannot yet go home.”

The majority of people who were trapped in Hope have left. A passenger train took some out Wednesday night (Nov. 17) and more departed when Highway 7 opened for a brief time Thursday.

Food and fuel supplies are still limited, and the District of Hope is asking residents to not purchase more than they need.

District services are also limited. District Hall, along with the Transfer Station are open, and waste collection will resume once highway road space opens up.

For more information, call the District of Hope at 604-869-5671.


@ProgressSports
eric.welsh@theprogress.com

Like us on



Eric Welsh

About the Author: Eric Welsh

I joined the Chilliwack Progress in 2007, originally hired as a sports reporter.
Read more