Localized Flooding Prompts Responses News Release #26
Kelowna, B.C – Emergency response crews monitored areas affected by flooding overnight.
The short-term forecast is calling for significant rain starting late Thursday. Citizens should keep in place all protective measures. Citizens who live in low lying areas near creeks and lakes that may be susceptible to flooding should also take preventative measures to protect their properties.
Sandbags are available at City of Kelowna Fire Station #1 at 2255 Enterprise Way. Sand and sandbags are available at Swalwell Park in Lake Country. Sand is available outside the Hotel Eldorado on Cook Road in Kelowna and on Commonwealth Road by Holiday Park in Lake Country. Please check cordemergency.ca for updates on sand locations throughout the day.
All Evacuation Orders and Alerts remain in place. Please go to cordemergency.ca for specific addresses.
Residents on Evacuation Order should report and register at the Emergency Support Services Reception Centre located in the Salvation Army Church, 1480 Sutherland Avenue (corner of Burtch Road and Sutherland Avenue), which will reopen this morning at 11 a.m.
Residents and property owners that are no longer under Evacuation Order and now able to access their property need to be aware that properties may not be habitable or have full services, such as electrical and/or natural gas. Residents who have registered with Emergency Support Services can continue to use any unused vouchers.
Residents with property managers should see them to obtain information on the safety and status of their property.
Disaster Financial Assistance
The BC Government announced that Disaster Financial Assistance is available to Central Okanagan residents affected by the recent flooding. Applications must be submitted by August 5 to Emergency Management BC and are available online at www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance.
Information on Flood Preparedness and Returning After a Flood
The Preparedness BC website has information to help those property owners with protecting their property from flooding and some considerations for those returning after a flood.
Interior Health also has information available for residents to consider Before, During and After a Flood. Information on flooding and electrical safety is also available for BC Hydro and FortisBC (electrical and natural gas) customers: www.bchydro.com and www.fortisbc.com.
The Boil Water Advisory for Westbank First Nation IR#9 continues. More information and a water system map are available at www.wfn.ca/wfnnews.htm. All citizens should monitor their water purveyors websites for up to date information on water quality as there are a number of water providers throughout the Central Okanagan.
Anyone noticing a potential problem or a flooding concern is asked to call the Kelowna Fire Department at 250-469-8801.
For up to date information on the situation including a map and to sign up for e-updates, visit www.cordemergency.ca. Information will also be provided via the https://twitter.com/CO_Emerg and https://www.facebook.com/CORDEmergency/. For more information contact the Information Office at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).
