BC rain: Five things that happened on the west coast this week
Digital Reporter
Friday, December 12, 2014, 6:34 PM - It's been an active weather week in parts of B.C. Heavy rain caused widespread power outages, structural damage and local states of emergency. Here are five notable things that happened.
5. Power outages
As many as 100,000 customers were without power Friday morning when wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h tore through B.C.'s south coast, knocking down trees and damaging power lines. By 11 a.m., B.C. Hydro had restored power to most homes.
4. Local states of emergency
Three communities declared states of emergency this week due to the weather. A mix of high tide and heavy rain caused flooding in the community of Courtenay, prompting the mayor to issue a declaration on Tuesday. South Delta declared an emergency when a portion of a seawall collapsed, and Parry's RV Park near Parksville had to evacuate some residents due to rising water levels.
Photo of flooding in Courtenay. Courtesy: Julie Nichol
3. Mudslide
A man near Qualicum needed to be rescued Wednesday after a mudslide slammed into his 2-storey home.
Local fire crews were able to rescue him. He was then air-lifted to a hospital.
The man was conscious and talking as crews worked to retrieve him.
RELATED: Dramatic photos of flooding in Courtenay, B.C.
2. Seawall collapse
A partial collapse of a seawall near Delta, B.C. caused by high winds and the high tide left approximately 400 houses in the area exposed to potentially dangerous surf. The community issued a local state of emergency to help mitigate the situation.
1. Heat record
Amid all the active weather, at least one heat record was broken in B.C. this week.
"On Tuesday, a high of 15.3C was recorded at Vancouver International Airport," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese.
"That's the warmest all-time December record in the city, replacing the previous record of 14.9C on Boxing Day 1980."
