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May 07, 2018 - 3:48 PM
KELOWNA – The increasing possibility of spring flooding has forced Central Okanagan emergency operations to expand a local state of emergency to include all of the City of Kelowna.
Late last month a local state of emergency was declared for residents near Mill Creek from eastern city limits to the Okanagan Lake because of the flooding risk from spring runoff. It was renewed again last week on May 3, and expanded to include all of Kelowna today, May 7.
“The local state of emergency is a proactive approach that provides crews access to specific private properties in order to protect public infrastructure,” emergency operations says in a media release.
The state of emergency will remain in place for seven days, unless it is extended.
City-wide local states of emergency also exist for Peachland and West Kelowna, and in the Central Okanagan’s West Electoral Area in the vicinity of Westside Road North from 5625 Westside Rd. to the Regional Boundary.
Emergency operations says flood prevention efforts are underway throughout the region as officials continue to monitor roads, culverts, weather, creeks and streams. Bulman Road in Kelowna is currently closed due to overland flooding, including access to Shadow Ridge Golf Course.
Property owners near creeks and streams, especially those who may have experienced flooding in the past, are being asked to proactively prepare. Several evacuation alerts and orders continue to remain throughout the region.
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.caopen_in_new, or call the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490.
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