A local state of emergency has been declared in Kelowna, as isolated floods threaten properties on three rivers in the area. Meanwhile, a small community in southeastern British Columbia has issued an evacuation warning and a local state of emergency as torrential rain and late spring thaws combine to swell rivers in many parts of the province.
Mission Creek, Scotty Creek and Upper Mill Creek were affected in Kelowna, according to Central Okanagan Emergency Operations (COEO) officials.
“This rain was not foreseen,” said Sandra Follock, deputy chief of the Kelowna fire department.
“There’s still snow that will melt, so we’re expecting a little more impact, but it’s really hard to assess right now,” Folok said.
She said the weather forecast warned of 20 millimeters of rain, but the area had received more than 65 millimeters in a short period of time, leading to isolated floods and debris flowing down the rivers.
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Follock expects the local state of emergency to last at least four or five days.
In the southeastern part of the province, Sparwood County has announced an evacuation alert for two mobile home parks and several properties on the nearby Elk River, which is under flood warning. The signal comes after 52 millimeters of rain recently flooded the community.
Mission Creek works fast – watch the risk of flooding for the rest of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full. Nowhere near 2017 levels @weathernetwork #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/UkMH0Q6PtM
Mission Creek works fast – watch the risk of flooding for the rest of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full. Nowhere near the 2017 levels Jaclyn Whittal on Twitter: “Mission Creek works fast – we monitor the risk of flooding for the rest of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full. Nowhere near 2017 levels @weathernetwork #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/UkMH0Q6PtM / Twitter “Jaclyn Whittal on Twitter:” Mission Creek is working fast – monitoring the risk of flooding by the end of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full pool. Nowhere near 2017 levels @weathernetwork #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/UkMH0Q6PtM / Twitter “Jaclyn Whittal on Twitter:” Mission Creek is working fast – monitoring the risk of flooding by the end of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full. Nowhere near 2017 levels @weathernetwork #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/UkMH0Q6PtM / Twitter “
– Jaclyn Whittal (@jwhittalTWN) Jaclyn Whittal on Twitter: “Mission Creek is working fast – watching the risk of flooding for the rest of the week. The largest tributary in Lake Okanagan. Rain and snow have increased the flow and the lake is almost full. Nowhere near the 2017 levels #weathernetwork #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/UkMH0Q6PtM / Twitter ”
A few kilometers down the Ferney River is also preparing for flooding, but the city said in a statement that the river is currently at normal levels for spring.
Mayor Ange Kualitsa told the CBC that the city is proactive if things get worse, with sandbags and other measures introduced after the community activates its emergency operations center on Monday.
The city suffered a devastating flood in 2013, and Quallizza says many resources have been invested since then to mitigate the floods.
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EVACUATION SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice and Division Street in D / Rural Grand Forks constituency. MAINTAINED FOR HIGH FLOW: Border area including West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and tributaries. @ 1grandforksbc pic.twitter.com/2xtsW3GVR1
EVACUATION SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice and Division Street in D / Rural Grand Forks constituency. MAINTAINED FOR HIGH FLOW: Border area including West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and tributaries. Kutenai Regional District on Twitter: “EVACUATION SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice Street and Division in D / Rural Grand Forks constituency. HIGH FLOW CONSULTATION MAY BE SUPPORTED: Border area including West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and tributaries. @ 1grandforksbc pic.twitter.com/2xtsW3GVR1 / Twitter “Kootenay Regional District on Twitter:” Evacuation SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice Street and Division in D / Rural Grand Forks. Including HIGH STREAMFLOW MAGONTA CONSULTATION: B West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and Tributaries. @ 1grandforksbc pic.twitter.com/2xtsW3GVR1 / Twitter “Kutenai Border Regional District on Twitter:” EVACUATION SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice Street and Division in the D / R Grand Forks constituency. HIGH FLOW MAINTAINS: Border area including West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and tributaries. @ 1grandforksbc pic.twitter.com/2x tsW3GVR1 / Twitter “
– Kutenai Regional District (@RDKBdotcom) Kutenai Regional District on Twitter: “EVACUATION SIGNAL ISSUED: 10 addresses on Beatrice Street and Division in D / Rural Grand Forks. HIGH FLOW CONSULTATION SUPPORTED, including the West Kettle B area. River, Kettle River, Granby River and tributaries. @ 1grandforksbc pic.twitter.com/2xtsW3GVR1 / Twitter ”
“The cost of responding to floods and repairing damaged infrastructure is estimated to be 14 to 20 times more expensive than simply investing in mitigation,” she said.
The Six Mile community, north of Nelson, is also under threat of evacuation, while a flood warning has also been issued for the Liard River in the northeast.
Efforts to collect sand in Fernie, British Columbia, after a flood warning was issued for the Elk River. (Ange Qualizza / CBC News)
High-flow warnings apply to the Fraser River and several areas of BC’s interior.
Environment Canada says rain and snow warnings are currently in effect in the southeast, but could weaken as the storm moves east.
In Vernon, the North Okanagan Regional District has closed sections of the BX Creek Trail due to swelling of the BX Creek along its shores.
This article was originally published for CBC News on June 14, 2022. Contains files from Joel Ballard, The Canadian Press.
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