LAND MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK 31 Rainstorm and Flood Damage: Northwest British Columbia 1891–1991 1995 Ministry of Forests Research Program Rainstorm and Flood Damage: Northwest British Columbia 18 91–19 91 D. Septer and J.W. Schwab Ministry of Forests Research Program Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Septer, D. (Dirk), 1949- Rainstorm and flood damage, Northwest British Columbia, 1891-1991 (Land Management handbook ; 31) Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7726-2362-7 1. Floods – British Columbia, Northern – History. 2. Flood damage – British Columbia, Northern – History. 3. Precipitation (Meteorology) – British Columbia, Northern – History. I. Schwab, J. W. (James W.), 1951– II. British Columbia. Ministry of Forests. Research Branch. III. Title. IV. Series. GB1399.5.C3S46 1995 551.48’9’097111 C95–960052–3 Prepared by D. Septer and J.W. Schwab B.C. Ministry of Forests Forests Sciences Section P.O. Bag 5000 Smithers, B.C., For the Research Program B.C. Ministry of Forests © 1995 Province of British Columbia Published by the B.C. Ministry of Forests Research Branch 31 Bastion Square Victoria, B.C., Copies of this report may be obtained, subject to supply, from: Production Resources Group c/o Research Branch B.C. Ministry of Forests 31 Bastion Square Victoria, B.C., ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the help received Mr. F. Maximchuk and Mr. A. Evenchick, B.C. from many individuals during the preparation of Ministry of Transportation and Highways, this report. Especially helpful were the staffs of Terrace; Mr. A.S. Gottesfeld, Kitwanga; Mr. B. the British Columbia Provincial Archives; British Smith, Skeena Cellulose Inc., Terrace; Mr. D. Columbia Legislative Library; B.C. Ministry of Keating, Skeena Sawmills, Terrace; Mr. D. Forests Library; Alaska State Library and Towriss, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., Terrace; Archives; Library Pacific Biological Station, Mr. W.H. Hough, Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., Van- Nanaimo; and the Hudson’s Bay Company couver; Mr. E. Karanka, Department of Fisheries Archives, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Information and and Oceans, Prince Rupert; Mr. J. Hipp, Depart- documents could also only have been obtained ment of Fisheries and Oceans, Terrace; with help from staff at the Prince Rupert Public Mr. T. Wilson, B.C. Forest Service, Terrace; Mr. T. Library; Terrace Public Library; Kitimat Public Wardrop, B.C. Forest Service, Mile House; Library; Northwest Community College Library; Mr. F. Frank, Terrace; Mr. A. Charneski, Kitimat; Juneau Public Library; University of Victoria Li- Mrs. P. Bowman, Prince Rupert; Mr. F. Sharpe, brary; Anglican Church Archives; University of Victoria; Mr. L. Johnstone, Terrace; and Mr. J. British Columbia Library; Vancouver School of Wright, Terrace, B.C. Theology Archives; Bulkley Valley Museum; and The authors thank E. Karanka, Department of the Prince Rupert Forest Region Library. Fisheries and Oceans, and F. Maximchuk, Min- Many people helped supply information, re- istry of Transportation and Highways, for ports and publications. A special thanks to: Mr. valuable criticisms and reviews of the E. Coatta, Environment Canada, Atmospheric manuscript. A special acknowledgement is given Environment Service, Vancouver; Mr. J. to Rachele Barbuto for her perseverance in typ- Mekechuck, CN Rail, Edmonton; Mr. B. Easton, ing the manuscript. CN Rail, Prince George; Mr. R.E. Wells, Sooke; iii ABSTRACT Historical reports of important rainstorm and details were gathered from newspapers, technical flood events in northwest British Columbia and reports, scientific publications, ship logs, and the Queen Charlotte Islands are compiled for the diaries. The information is assembled in a years -. A brief descriptive history is pre- chronological catalogue of events. The report will sented for each event, including date, storm provide land managers, planners, foresters, engi- duration, precipitation data, storm damage de- neers, and historians with an appreciation for the tails, and other relevant storm facts, along with a severity and extent of past historical events and list of the source materials. Storm and flood dates the damage they caused. An understanding of the were determined from Environment Canada cli- magnitude and frequency of the events described matological and streamflow data and local may help in project planning, emergency plan- reports (e.g., in newspapers). Storm and flood ning and risk assessment. iv CONTENTS Acknowledgements iii Abstract iv Introduction Scope Historical Information Search Information Reliability Discussion How to Find Information in the Event Catalogue Event Catalogue Appendices Environment Canada, , rainfall intensity and duration values for the climatological stations listed in , northwest British Columbia Recurrence intervals, selected stations northwest British Columbia Gauging stations Water Survey of Canada, northwest British Columbia, location, years of operation, maximum instantaneous and maximum daily discharges Peakflows with return periods of years or longer, Alaska Panhandle, - Newspapers and publication dates Geographical index to storm and flood occurrences by rivers, creeks, and lakes in northwest British Columbia, - Major storms and floods recorded in northwest British Columbia Reported fatalities caused by slope failures and snow avalanches in northwest British Columbia Literature Cited Figures Location map showing northwest British Columbia Appendix Figures A. Summary of probable precipitation amounts for different recurrence intervals, Queen Charlotte Islands A. Summary of probable precipitation amounts for different recurrence intervals, mainland coastal stations A. Summary of probable precipitation amounts for different recurrence intervals, interior stations v vi 1 INTRODUCTION Storms, floods, and torrents have caused devas- becomes extremely difficult. The old-timer often tating impacts to property and resulted in the makes a comparison to past events, but details of loss of human life. Many events have occurred the events are often inaccurate or exaggerated. over the past century: some are recorded in news- The intent of this report is to assemble the histor- papers, journals, technical reports, ship logs, ical information pertaining to these events — diaries, and company documents; others are lost precipitation, floods, landslides, and snow in the memories of those affected. The impor- avalanches — and to the damage caused by these. tance of storms is critical to many working and This catalogue of the historically important rain- living within the resource-based communities of storm and flood events will help us better northwest British Columbia. However, histori- understand the magnitude of devastating events cally based information on events and their in northwest British Columbia and the impacts is scattered sparsely throughout many occurrence of such events. different sources. A comparison of events 2 SCOPE The catalogue of storms, floods, and damage in- The earliest weather station in the region, at formation contained in this report is assembled Port Simpson, began operation in but only for northwest British Columbia, extending from ran until . The longest continuous record Bella Coola in the south to Stewart in the north, exists for Bella Coola () in the south and and the Bulkley Valley in the east to the Queen Prince Rupert in the north (). See Appendix Charlotte Islands in the west ( ). Some for climatological stations in the region. information collected for areas outside the region Prince Rupert has had the longest newspaper is included to supplement limited accounts de- coverage, with publication under a variety of scribing events that occurred within the area. names. The Empire was the first, published in Northwest British Columbia remains sparsely , followed by The Prince Rupert Optimist in populated. Non-Native settlements were first es- (see Appendix for a complete list.) tablished in the later part of the last century. At The information presented in this catalogue that time, canneries were set up along the north covers the -year period, -. The selec- coast, North Pacific Cannery being the first in tion of this time period is based on the . They generally operated only during the availability of climatological records and written summer and early fall. Formally organized com- accounts pertaining to weather. An attempt was munities were established in the early s. made to find information before , but very Travel between these settlements remained poor little was found. Besides the main source of in- until with the completion of a rail link from formation (climatological station records and Prince Rupert to points east (Grand Trunk Pacif- newspaper accounts of storm damage), many ic/Canadian National Railway). However, it was other sources were consulted: technical journals, not until World War II and the perceived threat company records, government agency files, ship from the Japanese that a road was constructed logs, diaries, and Hudson’s Bay Company jour- between Terrace and Prince Rupert. Although nals. Most of the information contained in the the road was officially opened in , it was not catalogue is details describing storm damage as until the early s that the road was kept open presented in original accounts. Also included is year round. Kitimat was linked to Terrace, first the precipitation for the event and all sources by rail in , and in by road. Highway , where information was found. linking Highway to the Yukon, was opened in the