State of emergency renewed in B.C., gas rationing order lifting

Weeks after B.C. was hit by a series of atmospheric rivers that led to catastrophic flooding and mudslides, the province's deputy premier has renewed a state of emergency but is lifting a gas rationing order.

Weeks after B.C. was hit by a series of atmospheric rivers that led to catastrophic flooding and mudslides, the province's deputy premier has renewed a state of emergency but is lifting a gas rationing order.

Mike Farnworth gave the update Monday morning alongside Transportation Minister Rob Fleming.

"There is still so much to do," Farnworth said. "Because of the vulnerable state of our highway structure and continued need for public safety measures, I am extending the provincial state of emergency for an additional two weeks."

The province was placed under a state of emergency in November as southern B.C. dealt with extreme flooding and as major transportation routes were closed because of landslides. The state of emergency would have expired on Tuesday if it hadn't been renewed. It'll now expire on Dec. 28 unless it's lifted earlier.

That state of emergency came with a gas rationing order, limiting drivers of non-essential vehicles to just 30 litres per stop at stations across the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and Gulf Islands. That limit to gas purchases will end as of Dec. 14, however.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who abided by and observed the 30-litre rule," Farnworth said.

"When we put this order in place, I said at that time if we all pull together, we'll get through this emergency … at that time I said if we do that, we will we succeed and if we were greedy we'd fail. Well the people of British Columbia stepped up. Every one of you played your part and for that I want to thank you."