Tolko Mill, working to stay dry from flood waters, lends a helping hand | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Tolko Mill, working to stay dry from flood waters, lends a helping hand

Tolko Industries in Kelowna has been threatened by flooding, but report no loss of production.

KELOWNA – Staff and management at Tolko Industries have been keeping a close eye on the lake the last few weeks.

Set on the edge of swollen Okanagan Lake, Tolko millworkers have been running pumps and stacking sandbags, trying to keep the ever-encroaching water at bay.

Tolko spokesperson Don Hanson says production loss has been minimal.

“We took some employees off graveyard shift to help sandbag, we got our own sand because we wanted to leave the city’s supply for everyone else,” he says. “The team has been doing a great job.”

Hanson says the mill has also moved some of their floating log booms to key areas to act as breakwaters. He says they are in Westside and Kelowna and will stay as long as the lake remains high.

“It’s just a way of helping out the city,” he says. “It protects the shorelines.”

Hanson says plans are in place if the lake level gets any higher.

“We’re in a good position,” he says. “There could be a change in weather but we have pumps on standby… and pallets of sandbags that are ready as well.”


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