More of BC under flood watch
Posted May 11, 2017 7:17 am.
Last Updated May 11, 2017 6:09 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
KAMLOOPS (NEWS 1130) – Fears of yet more severe flooding in the Central Okanagan have prompted the local government to put hundreds more homes on evacuation alert.
NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Russ Lacate says a number of conditions have conspired to increase the potential for widespread flooding in some areas.
“Following on the heels of a winter snowpack that was well in excess of normal, combined with an unseasonably soggy first half of spring and, as of the last few days, a sudden warm up, it is all of these factors which have led to almost historically high stream levels in parts of the BC southern Interior,” says Lacate. “Now we are tracking heavier showers and thunderstorms targeting the Okanagan and neighbouring districts for today that could exacerbate the risk of further flooding.”
This latest evacuation alert is for homes and businesses in an area just north of Kelowna — the Scotty Creek subdivision of Ellison. Nearly 600 homes were put on alert in the same neighbourhood on Tuesday night.
Crews have delivered more than 115 truckloads of sand across the Central Okanagan at more than 25 locations as homeowners have been taking steps to protect their properties with more than 200,000 sandbags placed so far.
The Central Okanagan’s Regional District says people can expect to see unprecedented water levels due to rain, rising temperatures and melting snowpack. “Last week’s flooding may prove to be just a dress rehearsal for much larger events. Citizens who experienced flooding earlier this week should expect the same or worse,” says Director of Emergency Operations Brian Reardon.
The EOC has also asked people in affected regions to be prepared to hunker down in their homes and it says in the case of non-emergency flood conditions in their homes or neighbourhoods people should be prepared to shelter in place for up to 72 hours.
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran is urging people in low-lying areas to be careful and to take action. “To prepare for potential flooding unlike we’ve ever seen in our community. I know we got a bit of a taste of it this past weekend and by all accounts we will see flooding to that level and possibly even beyond.”
In the Shuswap, there is another flood watch for the Salmon River with high stream flow advisories across the southern interior.
People in the northern part of the province are also watching river levels with high stream flow advisories for the Bulkley Valley, northeast BC, and the Peace region.
Rogers, the parent of NEWS 1130, has a text-to-donate campaign to help those affected by flooding. Text FLOODS to 30333 to donate $10 to the Canadian Red Cross flood relief efforts in BC, Ontario and Quebec.
