Online Property Owners Flood Damage Assessment Tool
Since early May, the Central Okanagan has been impacted by historic lake water levels and associated flooding. This includes damage to public and private properties.
Today, crews are continuing to remove some flood defenses and cleaning up debris on those public beach and road ends that are at a higher elevation and unlikely to sustain any wave damaging erosion. They’re expected to finish this stage of work in Peachland and West Kelowna and complete activities along some City of Kelowna areas in City Park, Tugboat Bay and Sutherland Bay.
As well, contracted crews are working on debris removal from the lake and along public areas from Rotary Beach north toward the W.R. Bennett Bridge.
Today, the Emergency Operations Centre, in cooperation with Emergency Management BC, launched a digital tool that allows individual residents to report damage to their properties and how the flooding has affected them.
By collecting information about properties that sustained flood damage, the recovery team will better understand the magnitude of flooding and it will assist in preventing future flooding. Officials will also be able to understand how flooding has impacted the community and be able to connect residents with helpful resources.
Among those available, the BC Disaster Financial Assistance program and a program offered by the Canadian Red Cross. Information on the Provincial program is available online at http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/disaster-financial-assistance while potential assistance from the Red Cross can be accessed at http://www.redcross.ca/how-we-help/current-emergency-responses/spring-flooding-in-canada/spring-floods-2017-–-red-cross-support
Since yesterday, Okanagan Lake is down 1.5 centimetres from yesterday and sits at 343.052 metres above sea level. That’s still 57 centimetres above full pool. Kalamalka Lake dropped 1.4 centimetres from yesterday and is now at 392.243 metres, which is just over 53 centimetres above full pool.
Property owners along lakefront should continue to monitor their flood protection measures. For residents in areas were the flooding risk has passed, more information about sandbag locations for drop off, details about recovery efforts, and a link to the online Emergency Management BC sandbag recovery application, can be found at www.cordemergency.ca/beprepared/flood-recovery.
Those residents and visitors who may wish to head out onto area lakes are encouraged follow the guidelines for respectful boating. They’re encouraged to view the Boating Wake maps at www.cordemergency.ca/map in order to protect against wave generated shoreline erosion. Once lake levels reach more reasonable levels, regular boating activities can resume.
For municipal information such as boat launch, park and beach closures, and water quality advisories, visit their websites:
For beach water quality updates, visit Interior Health’s Water Samples page on www.interiorhealth.ca.
To stay informed about flooding and the recovery efforts, visit www.cordemergency.ca, sign up for e-updates or call the information line at 250-469-8490.
While staff at the Emergency Operation Centre will continue working through the long weekend, the next scheduled update from the EOC Information Office is planned for Tuesday, July 4th.
