A handful of Deep Cove residents are sighing with relief, as they have been allowed to return home.
On Thursday evening, the District of North Vancouver lifted a mandatory evacuation order for six properties on the 2700 block of Panorama Drive.
The order was issued Sunday evening, after severe flooding in the area compromised a retaining wall on one of the Panorama lots.
According to a statement from the municipality, professionals had determined that a potential failure of private infrastructure was deemed to create a risk to public safety.
“The decision to lift the order comes after district crews have worked over the past few days to complete construction work remediating hazards resulting from the extreme rainfall event,” the statement reads.
That work included restoring downstream creek drainage to Indian Arm, and upstream flow to its original state.
“Homeowners have been advised that hazards may be present on their property, and we have encouraged them to undertake their own due diligence on their properties,” the district said.
No place to stay on North Shore for evacuees with pets, resident says
Two of the evacuees were David Goodman and his mother Marjorie.
Goodman said the experience was especially difficult and confusing for his mom, who has lived in the house for 50 years and suffers from dementia.
“[Moving back] was huge for her,” he said. “She doesn’t like to be out of her element.
“She’s super happy to be back – and just observing all the damage and trying to process that,” Goodman said.
Another challenge they experienced in the evacuation was the lack of available accommodations that allowed pets.
“They don’t have anywhere on the North Shore where you can go,” Goodman said.
After they were offered rooms at what Goodman described as a less-than-desirable hotel deep in Burnaby, he decided to make his own arrangements.
“That was the most frustrating thing. I had nowhere to go with my dog,” Goodman said.
Returning home after being ordered out for nearly five days, Goodman is now sussing out what needs to be repaired.
The entire bottom floor of his home was flooded with about three inches of – thankfully – clean water.
“But I’m sure that some of the floor did get lifted up, and all the dry wall and baseboards will have to be replaced, and some carpets in the back,” he said. “I’m hoping not my kitchen cabinets, but they’re looking pretty bad. I just went through a reno about a year and a half ago.”
Goodman said he’s optimistic that much of the damage will be covered by insurance.
What’s given him pause is some of the messaging from the district about the property owner’s responsibility to assess potential hazards on their lots.
When the mayor’s secretary called, she said they could go back, but advised Goodman that he should hire his own surveyors – and possibly lawyers – to check on the house, because it’s his responsibility.
“Which is kind of weird,” he said.
