Saturday, December 14th at 9:00 am, residents of the Lions Bay area woke up to 70 mph winds tearing down power lines leaving around 300 with no power. Not even an hour later, residents heard a loud boom as a landslide began tearing down from the mountain, stretching across the highway connecting Vancouver and Whistler. Traffic was halted as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Canada Task Force 1, and rescue teams began search and evacuation efforts.
Before ground teams could begin operation, a geotechnical engineer was brought to assess ground stability. Drones with thermal imaging and dog teams assisted search and rescue officials in locating residents before sending in teams on foot. Aside from the damage to the mountainside and highway, it was confirmed that one house had been completely destroyed, being knocked off its foundation. One unfortunate report came in about a woman in South Surrey who died after a windblown tree branch struck her down.
Residents reported being terrified of an invisible threat barreling toward them. The treeline made it difficult to discern the direction of the landslide, leaving the homeowners unsure of whether they should evacuate or shelter in place. After confirming the ground was stable, task forces got to work. Clean-up efforts took around 19 hours to clear the debris off the highway and assess the wreckage the landslide had caused. The emergency response teams evacuated residents of the affected area, getting them out of their homes to safety.
The famous sea-to-sky highway reopened Sunday, December 15th, with officials confident in the stability of the landscape surrounding the area. The cause of the landslide is still under investigation. Thanks to the work from the RCMP, Canada Task Force 1, and the rescue teams, travelers can now drive along the highway safely.
