A series of powerful October storms are on track to hit the B.C. south coast starting late Wednesday night.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement that residents across the Lower Mainland and much of Vancouver Island can expect heavy rains and strong winds from Wednesday night through until next weekend.
Total rainfall accumulations may exceed 200 millimetres for western and inland areas of Vancouver Island, while inner coastal regions may exceed 100 millimetres.
Winds over exposed coastal areas may exceed 80 kilometres per hour at times during the storms.
The region was blasted by the first big storm of the season last Thursday night and early Friday, knocking out power to more than 29,000 customers at the peak.
The storm spared virtually no community on Vancouver Island's east coast, with winds peaking at 117 kilometres an hour at Trial Island near Oak Bay and Sisters Island off Salt Spring and surpassing 80 km/h in several other areas.
City offering free sandbags
In anticipation of the storm, starting Wednesday (Oct. 12) at noon, the City of Courtenay is offering free sandbags to residents and businesses, at the following two locations:
• Public Works Yard public parking lot at visitor entrance, 1000 Piercy Avenue (please do not enter the main yard)
• Puntledge Road shoulder by the Red Cross building at 464 Puntledge Road
The City is also asking residents to please periodically check and clear the grates over catch basins near your property to remove any leaves or debris, in an effort to help reduce the potential for flooding,
To report problems, please contact Public Works at 250-338-1525 (after-hours emergency 250-334-2947) or email publicworks@courtenay.ca