The City of Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, is providing sand and sandbags to residents as a major rain storm moves through the region on March 20, 2026. Local officials are encouraging people to take proactive steps to protect their properties after a powerful weather system known as an atmospheric river hit the South Coast.
A self-serve sandbagging station is now open at Harris Road Park for any community members who need to guard their homes against rising water. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels to the park to fill the bags, which the city has made available as a precaution against local flooding.
Environment Canada has issued an orange rainfall warning for the area, which means the heavy rain is likely to cause significant disruption through Friday. At the same time, the B.C. River Forecast Centre has put a flood watch in place because water levels in local rivers are rising quickly and could spill over their banks.
To help manage the heavy rainfall, city crews are running all water pump stations at full capacity and are closely watching dikes and drainage systems. Residents are also being asked to help out by clearing any leaves or debris away from storm drains near their homes to prevent water from pooling on the streets.
Officials advise everyone to stay away from fast-moving water and riverbanks while the storm continues. The city will continue to monitor the weather and infrastructure until the rainfall warning has passed.
