Flood History
Story Map on Fraser River Flood History in the Lower Mainland
For the people living along its lower reaches, the river known by First Nations in the region as stó:lō or stal̕əw̓ has always been a lifeline and source of abundance for communities. The river (which settler communities later called the Fraser River after Simon Fraser) has also always been a formidable force, and one that demands respect.
The Lower Mainland has experienced two major Fraser River floods in the past 130 years. The largest Fraser River flood on written record was in 1894, and the second largest was in 1948. Earlier large-scale floods on the river are also part of the oral history of Coast Salish First Nations.
What was it like to face the fury of the river as flood waters covered the land? Take a step back in time through this pictorial story map. The map was created in 2020, before the Nooksack River in Washington State flooded Sumas Prairie, Abbotsford in November 2021. That flood event brought into sharp focus some very serious impacts of flooding in a modern context.
Start anywhere on the Fraser River Flood Story Map!
Picture Gallery
Ready to explore a little more? Browse a photo gallery for glimpses into the past.



![B.C. Electric bus destined for Fraser Mills proceeding along a flooded road, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9347] B.C. Electric bus destined for Fraser Mills proceeding along a flooded road, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9347]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/05/0cda4046-20aa-45f1-b13f-e4cca18b2c00/3314478169.jpg)

![View of businesses under water during the 1948 flood. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [PP500708]. View of businesses under water during the 1948 flood. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [PP500708].](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/05/a9b0e7b3-6118-4a8e-abfc-b02da98d0f80/1988588918.jpg)
![Stacking sandbags from a barge to reinforce the dikes along the Fraser River during the 1948 flood. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9045] Stacking sandbags from a barge to reinforce the dikes along the Fraser River during the 1948 flood. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9045]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/05/cd5856fd-4026-4849-a3d6-b88686861c4a/1965010880.jpg)
![Low elevation aerial view of Mission to Barnston Island, looking west, during the Fraser River flood of 1948. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [1984.050.011]. Low elevation aerial view of Mission to Barnston Island, looking west, during the Fraser River flood of 1948. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [1984.050.011].](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/05/Screen-Shot-2020-05-02-at-9_08_03-PM/4023282329.png)

![1948 Flood Evacuating Committee Headquarters. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [2013.123.015]. 1948 Flood Evacuating Committee Headquarters. Photograph courtesy of the Chilliwack Museum and Archives [2013.123.015].](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/cache/2020/05/b1053d51-f9fc-4f8b-8e75-ec92fc9c0ea5/2324724218.png)


![Flooded residence in Fraser Valley flood. Photo from Vancouver Public Library, Special Collections, VPL [44496] Flooded residence in Fraser Valley flood. Photo from Vancouver Public Library, Special Collections, VPL [44496]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2099f367-84d8-403d-9d81-25db1821c663.jpg)
![Stacking sandbags from a barge to reinforce the dikes along the Fraser River during the 1948 flood. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9045] Stacking sandbags from a barge to reinforce the dikes along the Fraser River during the 1948 flood. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9045]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/cd5856fd-4026-4849-a3d6-b88686861c4a.jpg)
![B.C. Electric bus destined for Fraser Mills proceeding along a flooded road, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9347] B.C. Electric bus destined for Fraser Mills proceeding along a flooded road, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archives [IHP9347]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/0cda4046-20aa-45f1-b13f-e4cca18b2c00.jpg)
![The raised level of the Fraser River and a dyke which has been reinforced with sandbags, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archive [IHP9359] The raised level of the Fraser River and a dyke which has been reinforced with sandbags, 1948. Photo from New Westminster Archive [IHP9359]](https://floodwise.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/4d92f498-4a35-4f74-86be-368e17777c8d.jpg)




