Crews assess flood impacts and mitigation measures
Crews spent Thursday evaluating flooding mitigation measures after Wednesday’s rain caused localized flooding and record creek flows.
Mission Creek reached a record flow rate overnight of 124 m3/s. Mitigation efforts including raised dikes installed last year and sand bags and tiger dams installed this year were able to contain the flow.
“Today crews inspected the protection measures that are in place and noted areas that need to be reinforced,” says the Central Okanagan’s Emergency Operations Centre. “Flood prevention and mitigation efforts continue throughout the region as officials monitor roads, culverts, creeks and streams in conjunction with weather patterns.”
Crews in Kelowna also responded to reports of localized flooding along Parsons Road and the 4800 block of Lakeshore Road.
In Joe Rich, an evacuation order was issued for eight properties on Philpott Road because of concerns that a bridge was at risk of washing out and leaving the residents isolated. Officials knocked on the doors of the affected properties to inform residents of the order. The properties under the evacuation order are:
- 1061 Philpott Road
- 1120 Philpott Road
- 1230 Philpott Road
- 1231 Philpott Road
- 1330 Philpott Road
- 1350 Philpott Road
- 1470 Philpott Road
- 1495 Philpott Road
Washouts also resulted in closures at the 2000 block of Huckleberry Road and the 6300 block of Goudie Road in Joe Rich. Philpott, Huckleberry and Goudie are all provincial roads. Residents with questions or concerns about the roads should contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s Kelowna Office at 250-712-3660.
All other evacuation orders and alerts remain in place. Officials continue to monitor all creeks in the region including McDougall and Powers creeks in West Kelowna, and Mill, Mission and Bellevue creeks in Kelowna.
Local states of emergency remain in place for Peachland, West Kelowna, and Kelowna and in the Central Okanagan’s West Electoral Area in the vicinity of Westside Road N from 5625
Westside Road to the Regional Boundary. A local state of emergency was also declared last night for the Central Okanagan’s East Electoral Area (Joe Rich).These allow crews to access private properties so they can proactively place flood protection measures along creeks to protect public infrastructure.
Okanagan Lake remains below full pool at this time. Other small area lakes may fluctuate more and monitoring is an on-going process.
Property owners near creeks and streams, especially those who may have experienced flooding in the past, are being asked to proactively prepare. Self-serve sand and sandbags are available across the Central Okanagan.
For up-to-date information, including evacuation alerts and orders that remain in place, as well as flood-preparedness resources, sign up for e-updates, visit cordemergency.ca, or call the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
For municipal information such as specific flood protection measures being put in place, park and road closures or water quality advisories, visit their websites:
City of Kelowna
City of West Kelowna
District of Lake Country
District of Peachland
Regional District of Central Okanagan
Westbank First Nation
For current conditions on provincial roads such as Westside Road, visit drivebc.ca. For smaller provincially operated side roads click on the BC Flooding Information 2018 link.
