HISTORICAL NEWS SEARCH - Government of British Columbia

*1) Seismic sea waves comparable to those generated by the 1964 earthquake are rare. Of the 176 tsunamis recorded in the
Pacific Ocean between 1900-1970, 35 caused damage near their sources, but only nine resulted in widespread destruction
(Thompson 1981).
May 1, 1964
Event type: Rockslide.
Precipitation: Prince Rupert M. Circ (11.2 mm/1 day), May 1, 1964.
Source: Prince Rupert Daily News, May 4, 1964; J. Mekechuck, pers. comm. 1989. CN Railway, Edmonton, Alta.
A rockslide on Highway 16 at Mile 50 delayed the traffic for a few hours. CNR reported a rock and
mudslide at Mile 50.2, measuring a length of 450 ft. (135 m) and a depth of 10 ft. (3 m). The rail line was closed for
12 hours.
May 29-June 3, 1964
Event type: Spring runoff flooding.
Precipitation: Not applicable.
Source: The Province, June 1, 1964; Prince Rupert Daily News, June 3, 4, 5 and 8, 1964; Terrace Omineca Herald,
June 3 and 10, 1964; The Interior News, June 3 and 10, 1964; The Daily Alaska Empire, June 3, 4, 5 and 9, 1964; The
British Columbia Road Runner, B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways, October 1964, Vol. 1 No. 4 p. 2; B.C.
Ministry of Public Works 1966 (pp. C 104-105); Environment Canada 1991.
In the spring of 1964, unusually high snowpacks produced record high June through September volumes of
runoff water. Late May-early June spring runoff caused extensive flooding in the Skeena Valley. Highway 16 west of
Terrace was inundated with 3-8 ft. (0.9-2.4 m) of water for a distance of 12 mi. (19.2 km). The floodwaters filled a
valley 5 mi. (8 km) wide (The British Columbia Road Runner). CNR poured rock fill along the Terrace-Prince Rupert
right-of-way.
On June 3, the Skeena River started rising 3 in. (7.6 cm) an hour. It rose at least 13.5 ft. (4.1 m) to 204.65 ft.
(61.4 m), nearing its 1948 flood level of 207 ft. (62.1 m). On June 3, Highway 16 and the CNR line between Terrace-
Prince Rupert were closed. The Kitimat River came close to flooding.
On June 4, the rail line reopened but Highway 16 remained closed for five days. Because of the closure of
Highway 16, an immediate and drastic decline occurred in the traffic on the Alaska State Ferry System, which uses
Prince Rupert as the southern terminus of its marine highway system. At Kwinitsa the section between Mile 42-46 was
completely flooded by up to 3.5 ft. (1.1 m) of water.
Residents of Remo, Usk, and Braun’s Island were evacuated. The bridge on Gagnon Road was completely
flooded. Stoney Creek bridge on the road between Hazelton-Kitwanga was washed out, isolating the Kitwanga area
until a temporary crossing was installed to accommodate light traffic. The Skeena River ferry system was stopped by
high water and swift current carrying debris downstream.
Flooding 3 mi. (4.8 km) east and 17 mi. (27.2 km) east and west of Terrace closed Highway 16. In the
Cedarvale area, as much as 48 in. (1.2 m) of water was on the road. The southern approach of the bridge on Braun’s
Island had to be reinforced. The bridge 43 mi. (68.8 km) west of Terrace was on the verge of floating. Crews had to
put ballast on the bridge and tie it down. Flooding closed the new Copper River Road.
Kitimat River came close to flooding. Logging operations slowed down or closed. The Columbia Cellulose
Whitebottom operation closed down. The BC Tel tower at Kwinitsa had to be moved to higher ground. According to
Don Chappion, District Manager BC Tel, on May 1 there was a peak snow level of 36 ft. (10.8 m) at 3,800 ft. (1,140
m) elevation. In 1963, the snow level for the same date and elevation was only 14 ft. (4.2 m).
The Between May 29-31, a combination of late secondary runoff and a warm front accompanied by heavy
thunderstorms triggered extensive flooding comparable to that of 1948 between Topley-Houston. Two bridges were
washed out and several damaged. Four large culverts were also washed out and many badly scoured (B.C. Ministry of
Public Works 1966). The Houston Bridge No. 35 on Highway 16 required considerable repair on the substructure as a
result of driftwood damages.
The late spring flood tore out three secondary bridges along Topley Road, 30 mi. (48 km) west of Burns
Lake. Twelve persons stranded between two bridges were flown out by helicopter. A highways department official
estimated it would take four to six days to rebuild two of the bridges. (The Province, June 1, 1964).
On May 31, the Topley Landing road was closed to traffic. Helicopters airlifted a number of people caught
between washed-out bridges. A washed-out bridge at Canyon Creek closed burnt Cabin Road, between Telkwa-
Babine Lake Road. A bridge on the T.F. & M. logging road up the Telkwa River washed out. Highway 16 reopened
on May 31 after washouts near Topley, 17 mi. (27.2 km) east of Houston, had been repaired. CNR reported problems
in the Smithers-Houston area. The old bridge across the Bulkley River, east of Houston and the CNR bridge across
Buck (Creek) River were endangered. In the Burns Lake area, some smaller rivers caused flash-flood conditions.
On June 1-2, heavy rain was reported in Smithers. The Smithers Airport recorded 37.3 mm of rain over the
two-day period. Three secondary roads were closed after the approaches of some small bridges washed out. The
pumphouse of the Smithers water system along the Bulkley River and a number of trailers at the Bulkley Bridge
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