November 14-19, 2021

Sunday, November 14

Sunday came with torrential rains, and rumors that the Nooksack River (across the border in the U.S.) would go over. When the Nooksack overflows, the water comes across the border into Sumas Prairie. However, we've always stayed dry when the Nooksack overflows, so we weren't too concerned.

Monday, November 15

Monday was a blustery stormy day, with strong south winds and lots of rain. Rainfall records were set both Sunday and Monday, with 150mm+ in Abbotsford, and up to 295mm in other areas. At 9 p.m. we received notice that our area was under evacuation alert. We were very surprised because at that moment, and all day, the dyke in the middle of Sumas Prairie was holding. So we decided to have a good sleep and see what the morning would bring.

Tuesday, November 16

6:00 a.m.

Kevin called us to say the water was coming over the road by South Parallel+No.4 rd.

(between us and the highway). This was caused by Breach A at Cole rd., which caused a ton of water to come at us from the West and the North. At the same time, a police officer was at our door informing us very calmly that we needed to get out ASAP. We went to Marion rd. (Kevin + Tamara's house, one minute away) to come up with a plan. At this point the water was around our neighbor's house by Kevin + Tamara's. Tamara and her kids headed out to a friend's house in Greendale.

6:30 a.m.

We went back to the farm and got Chaun + Emily (young couple in our suite) to take our motorhome and their car out to Greendale. We decided to dig up the lawn in front of Marion rd. barn to make a dyke in front of the duck barn to protect it. We had ducks that were 5 days old at this point. We put a dirt dyke in and out of the barn, and the ducks were doing very well.

After 20 minutes the water started rushing over the road intersection of No.4 rd. + Marion, coming from the North and moving south very fast. Water was flowing in front of Kevin + Tamara's house, but then flowing beside the hedge, so far all is manageable. Andrew noticed a white "wall" toward Sumas Canal, and we soon realized that it was water rushing over the dyke like Niagara Falls.

Kevin, Andrew, and I went back to the farm, with the guys checking in at the neighbor's dairy farm. I went to make breakfast in the house, and after 30 minutes I looked outside and was shocked to see the water fill our field across the road within an hour. Then Kevin and Andrew hooked up the travel trailer to the pickup, and I headed out to Greendale. Meanwhile the men started evacuating other farmer's cows. The incredible amount of willing people with cattle trailers was indescribable, at least 100 trucks, trailers, and cattle liners.

I caught a ride with Kevin who was hauling cows. (The police only let people back in who lived in the area with animals). I took Donald's truck and Kevin and Tamara's RV trailer to Ron + Heidi Thalen's in Greendale, where we are staying. Thanks to Ron Thalen and Mike Rolleman in assisting in moving vehicles, including Monique's car/Kevin's work truck from the shop.

2:30 p.m.

I caught a ride in again mid afternoon to help move equipment. By this time the water was up to my knees and rushing in from the North/West, and within 30 minutes the water rose to my waist. We figured something happened, and later found out about the 100m long hole in the Sumas Dyke (Breach B).

An amazing group of people (including the John Schouten family) moved all our personal vehicles, big tractors, and silage trucks to higher ground (Yarrow). Later while Kevin + I were on No.4 + Dixon rd. heading out with a load of calves, we crossed the bridge on No.4 rd., and one minute later the bridge collapsed behind us. Thank you Lord for keeping us safe! After dropping the calves off, I went to the RV to change. I was soaked from the chest down and covered in manure. The men and many others stayed until late to keep hauling cows out until the police stopped them. All day we hear rumors of the Barrowtown pump station failing.

7:00 p.m.

An emergency update is issued, that everyone must leave the Sumas Prairie immediately, as the conditions had escalated and "posed a significant risk to life". The Emergency Operations Center anticipated that the Barrowtown Pump Station would fail within 7 hours. This would cause the Fraser River to enter the Sumas Prairie, which would be catastrophic. (Our farm is built on what used to be a lake that covered Sumas Prairie, but was drained in the 1920's). They expected the water to fully fill the lake, which would be 10-12ft deep. Our house would be covered by a lake for months. Many people on either side of the Vedder River were absolutely terrified, for if the water came it would destroy so much, and we didn't know where it would stop. Many packed go-bags, and prayed into the night.

The water was 3' high at the farm.

8:00 p.m.

A call for sandbagging volunteers went out. Over 200 people showed up, along with Kevin, Ron Thalen, and Mike Rolleman. The men said it was incredible to work as such a unified force, especially seeing many of the men from our churches. They worked until 3 a.m. sandbagging around the Barrowtown Pump Station to keep the water out so it could continue running.

Wednesday, November 17

We awake and hear about the Barrowtown Pump Station sandbagging, and that the pump itself had not failed during the night. Praise the Lord!

The water continues to rise. The men are up early (yes, they hardly slept) to move more cows. So far our houses are dry inside, crawlspaces are full of water, but ducks are good. We learn that the water supply has been compromised and shut off by the city so there is no water for the animals to drink. A new challenge is getting water to animals. Where to get tanks/water, etc? A tip of the hat to the Ken Boeve family who helped with getting our ducks water.

The police continue to give farmers trouble for rescuing animals. We keep going, how can we just let the animals drown. We cannot idly watch. Houses are still dry, debris is everywhere. But we are very hopeful. The rising water has to stop, right?

We make arrangements to get our ducks out, but we are not allowed to take them out this late in the day, so we wait until morning. (The police do not want us to work in the dark, which is understandable).

The water is 3.5ft at the farm.

Thursday, November 18

Andrew checks the birds at 2:30 a.m. (he drives his loader tractor everywhere, even on the highway, since no other vehicles are using the highway). He sees that the water rose overnight, and knows that the ducks did not make it. At this point the water is so high that boats are the only way to get around to move cows and calves.

Allen and James and many others are helping to boat calves out of the neighbor's barn, then transfer them into a cattle trailer hooked up to a tractor, that then drives to No.3 rd./Yellow Barn to transfer the calves to a truck + trailer to go to a farm in Chilliwack. Today is very cold (4°, raining, north wind). We can see the water continue to rise. The water is now over No.3 rd. by the Yellow Barn.

The team continues to work tirelessly to get the animals out. We are very proud of Kevin, who has been coordinating for farmers the moving of animals out of Sumas Prairie to other farms. A huge and stressful job.

Late Thursday afternoon the water is too high to get more animals out. Tamara + Kevin check their home, and there is 8" of water inside. Absolutely devastating. They manage to rescue the essentials- the freezer, the Bible, and liquor :). We have to find humor or we would cry all the time. Allen and a crew grab what they can out of the salon for Tiff, and move some of our belongings in the house higher up. The water is also 8" deep in our house.

Families and our church family have stepped up tremendously, and are feeding us and our rescue crew lunch + dinner today. We have enough food to feed an army. Beautiful to see. We also needed dry boots, socks, coats, etc. and within an hour of putting that call out, we had more than we needed. Thank you everyone.

The water is 5' deep on the farm.

Friday, November 19

It is a beautiful sunny day. Hoping it is a good day for dyke repair- follow Abbotsford News for press conferences on YouTube. James works for the company that is infilling the dyke.

Today some of the boys' helped out at the neighbors and then grabbed more things from the house, and drove the boat (with the trailer still attached to it) to No.3 rd. for the tractor to tow. The police gave them a wave and a smile, and said they can't believe how much we are going through. I asked for pictures of our home. Hard to see but necessary. The water keeps rising. The water is 5' 6" on the farm.

Many are asking how to help right now. We will continue with the rescue crew in place, but once the water recedes we will have a demo day(s) and lots of cleanup. So, so much cleanup and re-building to be done.

We laugh, we cry. We see our Heavenly Father in various ways. We know He's here carrying us and giving us strength when/where needed, and we are thankful for a firm foundation. We testify of God's faithfulness to us through his Son Jesus. We will cling to Him in our time of calamity.

- Anita + the de Leeuw Family