Community Update 18: Place Glacier Hazard

Based on monitoring information gathered from Place Glacier and consultation with technical experts, the SLRD has issued an Evacuation Order for 24 affected properties in the Gates Lake and Poole Creek area.

Technical experts have advised that conditions at the glacier have reached a point where an outburst flood is considered imminent, and likely to occur in the coming hours or days. If an outburst occurs, a large volume of water, sediment, and debris will travel rapidly down Place and Poole Creeks, creating a risk to life and safety.

Although an outburst has not yet occurred, the SLRD is issuing this Evacuation Order out of an abundance of caution to provide residents with as much time as possible to safely leave the area before hazardous conditions develop. Receiving an Evacuation Order can be an emotional experience. You may be reluctant to leave your home and community. However, choosing to remain in an area that is under an Evacuation Order puts yourself, your family, and first responders in danger:

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

• If this is not your primary residence, you should return to your primary residence, if you are able to do so.
• Close all windows and doors. 
• Gather your family and, if you have room, take a neighbour or someone needing transportation.
• Residents who require transportation assistance should contact the Canadian Red Cross at 1-888-800-6493.
• Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet, and keys) and take pets in pet kennels or on a leash.
• Make arrangements to stay with family and friends, if possible. The Canadian Red Cross and the SLRD have Emergency Support Services (ESS) available – see below for more information. 
• Do not return to the Evacuation Order area until the Order has been rescinded by the SLRD.

Emergency Support Services (ESS)
Emergency Support Services (ESS) are available to support residents affected by the Evacuation Order. Residents are encouraged to register with ESS as soon as possible to access available supports. ESS support is available both in person and by calling the Canadian Red Cross 24/7 Emergency Line at 1-888-800-6493.

The ESS Reception Centre is located at the Pemberton & District Community Centre
and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 25 and Friday, June 26, 2026. Residents who require assistance with accommodation, food, clothing, or other immediate needs should contact ESS for support.

Do not travel to the area 
Residents and members of the public are advised to stay away from Place Creek, Poole Creek, Gates Lake, and other nearby water channels. Increased water flows, sediment transport, erosion, unstable streambanks, and debris may occur before, during, and following an outburst event. Members of the public should avoid hiking in the backcountry near Place Creek and below or around Place Glacier and are urged to stay away from all water channels, streambanks, culverts, and low-lying areas until further notice.

The SLRD continues to closely monitor conditions at Place Glacier with support from technical experts and emergency response partners and will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

Additional community updates will be issued if an outburst occurs and conditions evolve on the SLRD website. Once the threat to public safety has passed and it is safe for residents to return, the Evacuation Order will be rescinded. At this time, it is not possible to predict when that may occur.

The following emergency measures are currently in effect:

• Evacuation Order 
• Declaration of State of Local Emergency 

Find timely updates about this event and ensure you receive all emergency notifications:

• Sign up for the free SLRD Alert at www.slrd.bc.ca/alert to receive emergency notifications directly by phone, text message, or email. 
• Subscribe to Place Glacier Hazard email updates
• Review the Place Glacier Outburst Flood Hazard project page on the SLRD’s website.
• Follow the SLRD on Facebook and Instagram.