FLOOD WATCH: More than two dozen Chilliwack homeowners under evacuation orders, alerts
Flooding due to atmospheric rivers leads to alerts and orders in Eastern Hillsides and in Chilliwack River Valley
When heavy rains and warm temperatures lead to throbbing rivers in the Eastern Fraser Valley, properties next to the lowest flowing water and next to the higher hills are at risk.
As the Chilliwack River in the Fraser Valley and the Nooksack River in Washington State rise, breaching banks in some places, it has led to both localized flooding on fields all over, water rushing over the border into the Sumas Prairie as it did in 2021, and the risk of landslide in the surrounding mountains.
Specifically, eight properties on Patterson Road along the Eastern Hillsides in Chilliwack next to the Falls Golf Course are on an evacuation alert as of Thursday into Friday (Dec. 12, 2025).
Two properties in the Chilliwack River Valley on Chilliwack Lake Road and eight on Wilson Road are under evacuation orders, with 10 more on Chilliwack Lake Road on evacuation alerts.
Eight properties (first three images) on Patterson Road in Chilliwack that are under evacuation alerts on Dec. 11, 2025 because of flooding due to heavy rains, the area in the Chilliwack River Valley under evacuation alerts and orders, and one property on Wilson Road in the Chilliwack River Valley under an evacuation order.(Google Maps)
An evacuation alert is essentially a warning that an evacuation order could be coming. When an evacuation alert comes in advance of an evacuation order, residents are told they should be doing a number of things:
- Organizing an emergency supply kit with necessary prescription medications, personal toiletries, a change of clothing, insurance papers and other important documents.
- Locating all family members and designating a meeting place if an evacuation is ordered while separated.
- Preparing to move any disabled persons and/or children.
- Moving pets to a safe area.
- Arranging accommodation for your family if possible. In the event of an evacuation, Reception Centres may be opened if required.
- Monitoring news sources for information on evacuation orders.
The evacuation alerts for the Patterson Road properties are issued by the City of Chilliwack, while the Chilliwack River Valley is outside the city limits in Area E of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
Residents in the city are asked to follow the city's Flood Watch page while those in the FVRD can visit its Atmospheric River Update page.
Meanwhile, Highway 1 was still closed in both directions between Highway 1/Sumas Road and No. 3 Road in Abbotsford due to water breaching the road way. The City of Abbotsford and the Abbotsford Police Department are providing updates as the day goes on Friday.
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Paul J. Henderson
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