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Kelowna News

Flood threat stabilized, weather determines risk factor

The water level of Mission Creek has dropped overnight and Lakeshore Road has reopened, but emergency personnel suggest keeping a safe distance from local creeks for the next few days.

“It’s entirely weather dependent, but local creeks can rise quickly again over the next few days,” said Kelowna Deputy Fire Chief Jason Brolund. “We recommend that people stay away from creek banks, which might have been undermined by the water, and that people keep their sandbags in place.”

He said flows in Mission Creek remain high at 60 cubic metres per second. Flows yesterday exceeded 120 cubic metres per second.

Boaters on Okanagan Lake are reminded that a large amount of debris was deposited in the lake as a result of the storm and high run off levels.

Residents who have experienced flooding are advised to contact their insurance companies or visit www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca for more information. Information on what to do after a flood is also available at the Kelowna Fire Department’s Enterprise Way station.

Brolund said many more properties would have been flooded without the new dike constructed along Mission Creek in 2011.

“The work has paid for itself many times over,” said Brolund. “It’s a great example of how directing response costs toward mitigation and preparedness pay off in the long term.”
Just over 18 months ago, the province provided funding for the dike and work was coordinated by the City of Kelowna. Brolund says the high flows experienced in the last 24 hours on Mission Creek would have resulted in much more widespread flooding, along with large financial losses and response costs.

This morning, emergency crews are working with provincial authorities to address a property in the 11000 block of on Highway 33 in Joe Rich. A portion of the house and two trailers have been washed away, with one trailer is wedged under the bridge on Highway 33. Highway 33 remains open at this time.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013
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