Financial assistance available for people evacuated from homes due to 2025 atmospheric river event in southern British Columbia

The Canadian Red Cross today announced distribution of financial assistance to help people in the Fraser Valley and surrounding area with early recovery after flooding in December 2025.  Due to the atmospheric river event that occurred, many households that were under the evacuation order were impacted more than once, as they are in the same communities that also experienced significant flooding during the November 2021 atmospheric river event.

Eligible households will receive $750 in one-time financial assistance to help with unexpected costs and unmet needs such as clean-up, debris removal, and supplies. Eligibility is based on the impacts of the atmospheric river, available supports in the area, and unmet needs that those impacted may have.

Households must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this support:

• Their primary residence must have been placed under an evacuation order on December 10 or 11, 2025 due to the atmospheric river event in the Fraser Valley and surrounding area. 
• Their primary residence that was under evacuation order is located in one of the following communities:
  • Chawathil First Nation  
  • Chopaka (Lower Similkameen Indian Band) 
  • City of Abbotsford  
  • City of Chilliwack  
  • Fraser Valley Regional District
  • Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen  
  • Semá:th (Sumas) First Nation   

To access this assistance, households will need to register with the Canadian Red Cross, be authenticated, and complete a survey. People may register by:

• Calling 1-800-863-6582 between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time Monday to Saturday.
  Or,
• Visiting one of our in-person locations listed online at redcross.ca/2025BCFloods

The Canadian Red Cross is continuing to work collaboratively with governments, Indigenous leadership and local communities to determine how to best assist people directly impacted by the atmospheric river event that occurred.  

QUOTE:

“We know that it takes time to recover from a disaster, and that recovery time can be increased for households also previously impacted in a similar prior event. It is our hope that this financial assistance will help to ease some of the costs associated with the atmospheric river event that occurred on December 10 and 11, 2025.”  
— Pat Quealey, vice-president, British Columbia and Yukon, Canadian Red Cross
 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

@redcrosscanada.bsky.social | facebook.com/CanadianRedCross | redcross.ca/blog
Red Cross donor inquiries: WeCare@redcross.ca or 1-800-418-1111

ABOUT THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

Here in Canada and overseas, the Red Cross stands ready to help people before, during and after a disaster. As a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – which is made up of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 191 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies – the Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience.

MEDIA CONTACTS

English: media@redcross.ca, 1-877-599-9602
French and Quebec: communication@croixrouge.ca, 1-888-418-9111