Federal government to provide update on B.C. flooding disaster

The federal government is set to provide an update on the state of the emergency in British Columbia after days of devastating flooding.

The news conference is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET — 1 p.m. PT — in Ottawa.

You can watch it live at the top of this page.

Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra and Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson are expected to speak and take questions from the media.

B.C. has now started the enormous task of cleaning up and assessing damage after severe rainfall last weekend triggered catastrophic flooding and mudslides. The worst of the damage took place near Abbotsford, Chilliwack and in the province's southern interior.

The flooding prompted evacuation orders in some Fraser Valley communities. Portions of highways connecting the Lower Mainland to the rest of Canada have also been destroyed.

At least one person was killed in a mudslide. Officials say they expect the death toll to rise in the coming days.

Ottawa has pledged to send hundreds of soldiers to conduct search-and-rescue missions and to help the province recover. The first military contingent arrived earlier today.