HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

1991). According to John Newhouse, Ministry of Highways District Manager, two days of hauling riprap saved the
highway. The road between New Aiyansh-Greenville was closed by a slide and flooding of the Nass River.
In Prince Rupert, the highest predicted tide in a decade occurred on December 3. The 24.2-ft. (7.4 m) tide
caused some localised flooding near the former Kwinitsa station, and Hays Slough nearly overflowed its banks. The
currently unoccupied quarters of Sea Sport were flooded. *2) On the night of December 7, three people were rescued
from a lifeboat by an U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky helicopter. The crew had abandoned ship after their boat took on
water in high seas about 150 km south of Prince Rupert. The 135-ft. (40 m) antique luxury yacht Norsal ran into
trouble 30 mi. (48 km) west of Trutch Island during a storm. Winds in the area were recorded at 70 kn. (132 km/h).
On December 3 in Prince George, high winds knocked over a tree, killing a 53-year old man who was operating a
snowplough on his property. (The Vancouver Sun, December 3, 1990).
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*1) The previous record was set on December 12, 1978, with 19.9 in. (50.6 cm) of snow. All-time records were set on
January 17, 1974, with 40.6 in. (103.1 cm) and on February 18, 1972, with 40.3 in. (102.4 cm).
*2) The previous high tide of 24.6 ft. (7.56 m) in November 1977 caused extensive flooding at the Prince Rupert
harbour side. On December 30, 1963, a record high tide of 26.1 ft. (8.56 m) was recorded.
October 6-14, 1991
Event type: Flooding and landslides.
Precipitation: Falls River (213.8 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991; Kemano (144.0 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991;
Kildala (144.1 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991; Kitimat Townsite (151.2 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991; Sandspit A
(54.2 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991; Bella Coola (63.6 mm/2 days), October 8-9, 1991; Nass Camp (142.0 mm/3
days), October 8-10, 1991; Hartley Bay (724.0 mm/7 days), October 8-14, 1991; Prince Rupert (361.5 mm/7 days),
October 8-14, 1991; Terrace (235.7 mm/7 days), October 8-14, 1991; Smithers (95.3 mm/2 days), October 9-10, 1991.
Source: Northern Sentinel, October 16, 1991; Terrace Review, October 9 and 16, 1991; The Vancouver Sun, October
16, 1991; The Terrace Standard, October 16, 1991; The Interior News, October 16 and 23, November 6, 1991; The
Daily News, October 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 and 23, 1991; Prince Rupert This Week, October 13 and 20, 1991; British
Columbia Report, October 28, 1991; Environment Canada 1991; Sigma Engineering Ltd. Zymoetz erosion study. E
5724 Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Kitselas Board Council, March 1992; Provincial Emergency Program.
PEP Talk, Vol. 2, No. 4, Winter 1991; Brent Smith, pers. comm. Skeena Cellulose, Terrace; Letter, October 23, 1991,
Pacific Inland Resources, Smithers, Flood Damage Repair Estimate Telkwa FSR; Letter, October 28, 1991, D. Keating
(Skeena Sawmills, Terrace) to Don Varner (B.C. Min. For., Terrace) Estimate Flood Damage; Letter, October 22,
1991, G. Adolph (District Manager B.C. Ministry of Forests, Prince Rupert) to Vern Strain (Operations Manager B.C.
Ministry of Forests, Smithers), Flood and Damage Reports, Terrace-Nass and Smithers Area; Dennis Towriss, pers.
comm. Pacific Northern Gas, Terrace; Frank Maximchuk, pers. comm. B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways,
Terrace, Thornhill Creek Slide.
Heavy rain and a major street construction project in Prince Rupert were blamed for the flooding of the 24
Video outlet and other businesses on 3 rd Avenue West. Worst hit was Parker’s Ladies Wear. In Prince Rupert, a ramp
fell off the Cow Bay floats just south of the Prince Rupert Yacht and Rowing Club. According to wharf manager
Robert Small, a combination of low tides and high winds tore the ramp loose from the float. On October 11,
merchandise in the basement was floating in 2 ft. (60 cm) of water. Several debris slides occurred near Port Simpson.
On Indian Reserve 2 (Port Simpson) a slide wiped out a powerline. Two slides occurred adjacent to Steamer Passage,
spilling considerable debris into the water. A hand logger was observed trying to recover what he could.
During the second week of October, the Terrace area experienced a record rainfall. According to the Terrace
Weather Office, 242.4 mm (9.54 in) of rain fell between October 6-14, far more than the annual average for October.
The Kitimat Weather Station reported 221.2 mm of rain between 5 a.m. on October 8-9p.m. on October 10, setting a
possible record for a 48-hour time period.
Near Terrace, some erosion occurred around and under the Deep Creek dam, causing the Terrace water
supply to run dry. Water was drawn from Spring Creek until the damage was repaired. Flooding forced several
families near Terrace to evacuate their homes. In the Dutch Valley area just outside of Terrace, 15 people were
evacuated by road when a nearby river overflowed its banks and threatened residential areas. At least one house in the
Dutch Valley was flooded and sandbags were used in the area to prevent further damage. Food and shelter was
supplied to 27 families from outlying communities who were stranded in Terrace by Emergency Social Service
volunteers. In Terrace, three businesses The Terrace Review, the Neighbourhood Market, and the Video Stop on
Lakelse Avenue sustained flood damage. *1)
On Highway 16 east of Terrace, the bridges over the Copper River and St. Croix Creek were threatened by
erosion. The rising Skeena River backed up side rivers, causing flooding in the smaller communities near Terrace. On
October 15, the Skeena River at Usk recorded a maximum instantaneous discharge of 5,530 m 3 /s and a maximum daily
discharge of 5,310 m 3 /s (Environment Canada 1991). For a time the rising water threatened to flood homes at Lakelse
Lake. On October 15, Burdick Creek near Kitwanga ran out of the channel under the old bridge. It cut a new channel
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