The City of Abbotsford has announced a significant step toward normalcy for residents impacted by recent flooding, confirming that all evacuation orders have been lifted for the Sumas Prairie area.
Residents Cleared to Return Home
In a move welcomed by the community, municipal officials confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that all residents in the Sumas Prairie can now safely return to their properties. The city downgraded the final 11 properties from evacuation order to evacuation alert and formally rescinded existing evacuation alerts for 474 properties across the low-lying region.
This decision signals a major de-escalation of the flood crisis that prompted urgent evacuations earlier in the month following heavy rainfall.
River Conditions Improve
The lifting of orders coincides with improving hydrological conditions. The B.C. River Forecast Centre has downgraded its warning for the Sumas River from a flood warning to a high stream flow advisory.
This technical change reflects a reduced immediate threat of overflowing riverbanks, though authorities continue to urge caution as water levels remain elevated. The flooding was triggered when intense rainfall caused the Nooksack River in Washington State to overflow, sending water draining north into the Canadian Sumas Prairie around Abbotsford.
Recovery Efforts and Ongoing Closures
With the immediate danger subsiding, emergency support services are transitioning. The reception centre that had been operating at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre is now closing and will shift to remote operations.
Residents who still require assistance with Emergency Support Services (ESS) are directed to contact the ESS Director at 604-607-3408. While the evacuation mandates are over, the city notes that a few road closures remain in effect. Drivers are strongly reminded to obey all traffic control signage for their safety and to facilitate ongoing cleanup and assessment work.
The flooding, which peaked around December 12, 2025, submerged blueberry fields, closed major routes like the Trans-Canada Highway near Whatcom Road, and required a coordinated emergency response. The event brought back memories of the devastating 2021 floods, though reinforced dikes, including the Sumas dike at Cole Road which was breached four years prior, held this time.
