B.C. HYDRO / PNG
Two residents from Sumas Prairie, British Colombia, have filed a proposed class action suit on December 23rd in the B.C Supreme Court. The suit is against the local authorities and the providence for damages suffered during the flooding of mid-November due to torrential downfall. Class action suits that allow for one or more people to sue on the behave of a group of people with similar claims has been approved by the courts.
Prospective plaintiffs in this case could include any residents in the Abbotsford region who suffered losses in the floods. An official cost of damages has not been totaled yet but Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun estimated repair costs to be around $2 billion for the damages to farms and residential properties. Several residents had to evacuate the Sumas Prairie area and other areas of Abbotsford.
Residents are arguing that the city, regional district and province “failed to warn of the impending and foreseeable Suma’s flood in a timely manner” and “failed to implement emergency measures and warnings.” Had the city given proper warning, residents could have prevented and lessened damages caused by the flooding.