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Features
Updated 2017/5/12
Floods
KELOWNA FLOODING UPDATE
This story is brought to you in part by Energy Systems & Designs
By Ronan O'Doherty
Government officials in Central British Columbia have been warning residents to be prepared for a potential flooding event.
Although last night's rainstorm didn't result in water levels rising to the levels expected in and around Kelowna, residents are still being advised to be diligent and on their guard.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations posted a news report to their website this morning saying, "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
Included in the report were the following tips:
- removing items from below-ground basements and crawlspaces
- being prepared to leave at a moment’s notice by gathering all essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance) and immediate care needs for dependants
- preparing to move any disabled persons and/or children, and pets and/or livestock to a safe area
- arranging accommodation for your family, if possible
- signing up for e-updates at www.cordemergency.ca for the most current information regarding the flood
Excessive flooding can often result in water quality advisories being issued.
Darshan Lindsay, spokesperson for Interior Health British Columbia (IH) provided the following information via email.
"Our environmental health officers have been busy working with local water systems and ensuring that water system users are advised of changes to their drinking water quality resulting from either flooding or the spring freshet."
She said that Water Quality Advisories and Boil Water Notices are posted on the IH webpage
"Regular coordination calls are being held throughout the health region to review current status and contingency plans as the situation evolves. This includes an IH wide virtual Emergency Operations Centre, a Health Protection Incident Command Post and community level incident management calls," Lindsay explained.
Kelowna General Hospital continues to make preparations including sand bagging for precautionary reasons as it falls within the flood watch warning area.
Concerned residents can follow updates through BC River Forecast Centre.
They monitor, analyse and model the stream flow conditions around the province by using a variety of techniques and models with data input of snow surveys, weather and stream flow from BC Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada.
Their website can be found at http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/index.htm
Gabrielle Price, a spokesperson for the organisation, said, "Currently, there are flood watches in effect for several rivers and streams in the interior, Okanagan and Peace regions of B.C. The River Forecast Centre is continually monitoring conditions in the affected areas and will update any advisories and warnings as conditions warrant.
A Facebook Group - Kelowna Floods May 2017 - has been started that is acting as a resource for volunteer coordination. Various people are offering their services for sandbagging help, while others are pointing where it is needed the most.
Joe Gerolami owns Border Plumbing, Heating and Electric in Kelowna.
"It's such an anomaly what's transpired," Gerolami said," Normally we don't get a ton of rain, nothing as drastic as this year."
He's expecting to get a few calls about flooded basements in the coming days.
"Typically it's draining issue," he said, "In some of the older parts of town the sewers are above the drains."
Gerolami lives up in the mountains, so isn't worried about his own home but said that those living on the flats are more likely to suffer poor consequences.
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