EMERGENCY UPDATE

2025 Flooding: December 11 Update

Contacts for producers

Industry Associations:

• If you are a commercial agriculture operation, we encourage you to reach out to your industry association for emergency response support, including livestock relocation.

AgriServiceBC:

• For general agricultural emergency response support including livestock relocation, call the AgriServiceBC emergency line at 1-888-221-7141 or email AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca.

Local Authority / Local Emergency Operations Centre:

• Sign up for emergency notifications from your local authority (Regional District, municipality, or First Nation).
• Check your local authority website and/or social media accounts to stay up to date.
• Your local authority is your key source of information during an emergency. They are responsible for the local Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and they issue evacuation alerts or orders and establish protocols to enter evacuation order areas.

Producer preparedness

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food encourages producers to take the following steps to protect themselves and their operation in response to current flooding events:

• Review and use your farm emergency plan, including alternate routes if there are road closures and contingencies for sheltering livestock in place if relocation is unsafe. 
• Help emergency responders help you: Ensure that you have an up-to-date BC Premises ID account with contact information. Premises ID helps emergency teams reach you quickly to help protect your animals.
• Sign up for emergency notifications from your local authority (Regional District, municipality, or First Nation). Check your local authority website and/or social media accounts to stay up to date.  
• Stockpile supplies: feed, water, bedding, and veterinary supplies in case access routes are cut off. Ensure all vehicles have fuel. 
• Begin preparations immediately: do not wait for an evacuation alert or order to take action. 
• Prioritize personal and worker safety: In the event of large-scale flooding, follow evacuation orders immediately. 
• Communicate your status to local authority / EOC, especially if stranded or requiring animal-welfare support. 

Register your livestock with BCPID

Additional resources

For information on current flood situations including flood warning and high streamflow advisories visit: B.C. Flood Warning Information - EmergencyInfoBC

For complete information on emergency management and preparedness visit the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's Emergency management for agriculture - Province of British Columbia

For industry-specific emergency preparedness guides and resources visit Emergency preparedness for producers - Province of British Columbia

For updates on the Ministry's response to flooding visit Ministry of Agriculture and Food response to flooding - Province of British Columbia

General information on emergency preparation and recovery: Public emergency preparation and recovery - Province of British Columbia

Plan for livestock relocation. View the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness' Livestock relocation policy (PDF, 146KB).

For mental wellness support visit Health and wellness in the agriculture industry - Province of British Columbia

Contact AgriServiceBC

The AgriServiceBC phone line 1-888-221-7141 is available to producers impacted by flooding that need additional support.
 
The Ministry’s priority is supporting those directly impacted and routine calls to AgriServiceBC may have delayed response times.