Deep Cove, a community in North Vancouver, is no stranger to heavy rain. However, when local resident and business owner Ashifa Saferali witnessed an e-bike drifting down the street amidst a storm, she knew this was far from ordinary.

Saferali, who owns Honey Doughnuts and Goodies, a beloved establishment in the community, has lived and worked in the area for nearly thirty years. She has experienced flash floods before, but the downpour on October 19, the date of B.C.’s provincial election, was unprecedented.

She recalls a creek near her business overflowing at an alarming rate, flooding the streets and causing havoc. “It was pretty crazy,” said Saferali. The storm was so severe that it led to a local state of emergency, with 350 millimetres of rain falling in North Vancouver. The deluge transformed streets into rivers, devastating waterfront homes and forcing the evacuation of residents from six homes.

This incident is a stark example of how local infrastructure is grappling with the demands of a rapidly changing climate. The increasing frequency and severity of such extreme weather events pose a significant challenge. Engineers need to shift their focus from historical weather patterns to future predictions when planning safeguards, according to Shahria Alam, a professor of civil engineering at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus.

The changing weather patterns mean that existing systems may fail to manage such high levels of water, leading to catastrophic events. Alam warns that such incidents are likely to continue due to climate change.

Some communities are conscious of these challenges and are preparing accordingly. For instance, the City of Vancouver anticipates a 12% increase in average fall rainfall by the 2050s in its climate change adaptation strategy. Extreme rainfall events also pose a significant infrastructure risk.

Even cities that have invested significantly in upgrading infrastructure can still find their systems overwhelmed. North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little explains how a recent storm was so intense that it blocked the system with debris, despite millions being spent on infrastructure upgrades.

The aftermath of such events is challenging for businesses and residents alike. However, resilience and community spirit shine through. Saferali’s Honey Doughnuts and the Deep Cove Collective gift shop, managed by Heather Radant, bounced back despite the damage, thanks to the support from customers, neighbours, and city staff.

Moving forward, Alam suggests climate-resilient solutions, such as rainwater harvesting and green roofs on buildings, as the ideal response to these challenges. While these solutions can be expensive, they offer a sustainable way to manage stormwater and adapt to climate change.