Operation Lentus: Military flood response winds down

Members of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadian) Regiment based in Edmonton, Alberta, fill sandbags in support of Operation Lentus to help the local community in Princeton, B.C. on Nov. 25. Photo by MCpl Nicolas Alonso, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Canadian Armed Forces photo

Members of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadian) Regiment based in Edmonton, Alberta, fill sandbags in support of Operation Lentus to help the local community in Princeton, B.C. on Nov. 25. Photo by MCpl Nicolas Alonso, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Canadian Armed Forces photo

2Lt Vatsal Shah
MARPAC Public Affairs
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It has been nearly a month since Operation Lentus 21-06 began helping British Columbians following an atmospheric river that brought an unprecedented amount of rainfall and flooding.

The military is preparing to wind down the operation now that the atmospheric river has come and gone.   

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) were officially called in Nov. 17 – initiated by Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) to deploy Land and Air Task Forces with units from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

This is not the first time JTFP has responded to a crisis in British Columbia. It’s not even the first time this year. Op Lentus 21-03 was the military’s response to B.C. wildfires in the summer.

Even before Op Lentus 21-06 stood up, 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron members, using Cormorant helicopters, responded to a request to evacuate motorists stranded on Highway 7 between Hope and Agassiz. Mudslides had closed the roadway on both ends. By the end of Nov. 15, 300 people, 26 dogs, and one cat had been evacuated.

Forces assigned from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) from Edmonton, and 430e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères from Valcartier, began moving into B.C. on Nov. 17 to assist with flood relief efforts. A large contingent was deployed to Abbotsford, an area hit quite hard, and the surrounding areas. They also worked throughout B.C.’s interior and on Vancouver Island.

Working around the clock, military members sandbagged critical infrastructure, conducted rapid damage assessments, cleared culverts, evacuated livestock, and moved critical supplies and personnel around the province.

They worked hand-in-hand with Emergency Management British Columbia and those most affected.

The support was reciprocated by B.C. residents on Nov. 23 when a CH-146 Griffon from 430e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères, on a medical mission, was forced to make an emergency landing on the banks of the Fraser River near Yale due to bad weather. Nearby community members cleared trees to make a in a more secure area for the helicopter to wait out the weather, and hosted the aircrew in their homes overnight.

At its peak, Operation Lentus 21-06 had over 700 CAF personnel. Chinook, Griffon, Cyclone, and Cormorant helicopters, as well as Twin Otter, Hercules, and Globemaster fixed-wing aircraft all supported the Air Task Force. Members of Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Reservists from 39 Canadian Brigade Group, and sailors from CFB Esquimalt made up the Land Task Force.

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