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Heavy Rainfall Hits Deep Cove, North Vancouver: A Challenge for Local Infrastructure

The community of Deep Cove in North Vancouver is no stranger to heavy rain, but the recent downpour on October 19 caught many residents by surprise when an e-bike was seen floating down the street, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the storm.

Ashifa Saferali, who has been a part of the Deep Cove community for nearly three decades as the owner of Honey Doughnuts and Goodies, witnessed firsthand the intensity of the situation. Although she has encountered flash floods in the past, the volume of water that day was beyond anything she had experienced before.

According to Saferali, the creek near her business may have been overwhelmed with leaves and debris, leading to an explosive flow of water rushing down the hill within just an hour. “It was pretty crazy,” she remarked on the rapid escalation of water levels.

Ultimately, North Vancouver received an astounding 350 millimeters of rain, transforming streets into torrents that surged through waterfront properties, displacing boulders and gravel, and prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency. Residents in six nearby homes were ordered to evacuate for their safety.

This incident underscores a more significant issue: the struggle of municipal infrastructure to cope with the demands of climate change. With extreme weather events becoming increasingly common and severe, urban planners are challenged to adapt quickly. Shahria Alam, a civil engineering professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, explained that historical data no longer suffices for future planning as weather patterns shift dramatically.

Traditionally, engineers relied on past rainfall data to design systems like stormwater drainage. However, Alam notes that with changing climatic conditions, systems designed based on historical rates may fail during extraordinary weather events. “Unfortunately, these kinds of incidents will keep happening because of climate change,” he warned.

Some municipalities are taking steps to address these challenges. The City of Vancouver has acknowledged that average fall rainfall may rise by 12 percent by the 2050s, with the frequency of severe rainfall events set to double during that period. Rainfall amounts for these extreme events are projected to increase by 20 percent, with an average daily total reaching 86 millimeters.

In preparation for the anticipated changes, efforts are underway to study areas prone to instability and to enhance rainwater management practices. Despite ongoing upgrades to their infrastructure, North Vancouver’s drainage systems were still overwhelmed by the sheer volume of debris brought on by the October storm. Mayor Mike Little noted that significant financial investment had been made in improvements, particularly to the Gallant Creek catch basin system. However, the storm’s intensity led to clogging that paralyzed even the upgraded systems.

Little recounted how city crews battled to clear a catch basin on Gallant Avenue, fighting against the overwhelming influx of “six- to eight-foot-long woody debris.” His own basement suffered flooding due to the storm’s severity, illustrating the widespread impact of the weather event.

Meanwhile, local business owner Saferali described the conditions surrounding her store, noting that the water rose to knee-height, rendering the street nearly impassable. Heather Radant, manager of the Deep Cove Collective gift shop across the street, also struggled against the rising waters, using plywood and sandbags to fortify her business. The scene, as she recounted, was chaotic and surreal.

Looking forward, Alam advocates for “climate-resilient” solutions rather than simply expanding concrete infrastructure. Recommendations include implementing rainwater harvesting systems and “green roofs” to absorb rainwater. New technologies like continuous deflective separation could enhance stormwater management by filtering out debris and sediment.

While these solutions show promise, they can come with significant costs. Alam pointed out that while some cities manage to upgrade their systems, many are still lagging behind due to limited resources.

In the aftermath of the storm, life in Deep Cove is returning to normal. Honey Doughnuts is once again bustling with customers, and the Deep Cove Collective has reopened, aided by the local community’s generosity—neighbors and patrons provided dehumidifiers and fans to help dry out the shop. Saferali expressed her appreciation for the sense of community that emerged during this testing time, highlighting how neighbors pulled together to support one another through the ordeal.

Source
globalnews.ca